Here are some basic do’s and don’ts:
• Keep direct handling of objects to a minimum, and when you do handle them, hold them over a table with a soft covering to avoid loss or breakage.
• Use only archival quality ‘acid free’ containers and packaging materials. Provide padding to stop objects moving about and to separate items within the same container.
• Provide a stable storage environment for metal objects by keeping them in airtight ‘dry’ boxes with renewable silica gel sachets and humidity indicator cards (see www.finds.org.uk/documents/drybox-leaflet.pdf).