One of the functions of the CENIEH is the conservation of the collections deposited there from excavations at archaeological and paleontological sites. It is expected that these will expand steadily as archaeopaleontological remains from different excavations are received, and particularly from those linked to projects of the Center's teams.
For this reason, it possesses spaces suitable for the storage of a large number of items, ensuring optimal conditions for their long-term conservation. Their good condition is further ensured by the material and human resources of the Conservation and Restoration Laboratory. The CENIEH also has a modern Database system which has been specifically designed to catalog its collections and to manage the associated contextual information. The collection management system has been devised to facilitate study of the objects by researchers while offering them contextual information. Access to any of them should be requested through the User Office, after having consulted the Collections research and loans procedure, which establishes that, in the case of the archaeopaleontological objects, the application should be made at least one month in advance of the earliest access date requested.
Besides the ample space and specific equipment available in the Collections Research room, there is also analysis equipment available in other rooms for those researchers interested in consulting and studying the pieces. There are four major groups of collections:
-Comparative Anatomy Osteological Collection (COAC)
-Lithic Collections, Experimental Traceology Collection (CET) and the Mineral Collection (LITHO)
-Archaeopaleontological Collections (AP)
-Ratón Pérez Collection of deciduos teeth (RP)
The opening hours for the consultation of the collections are:
Monday to Thursday: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Friday: From 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m