This article emanates from studies and analyses of collections in cultural-historical museums in Sweden, Denmark, and Norway within the international research project CONTACT, concerning contacts between the aforementioned countries in southern Scandinavia during the Middle Neolithic (approximately 3000 BCE). This case study intends to raise questions related to research strategies at the museums holding the collections, in relation to the demand from research institutions using them. In what ways could these strategies coincide, and in what ways could they diverge? In what ways could we improve the research strategies for a better use of the collections?
NIKLAS YTTERBERG is an archaeologist working mainly in the contract archaeology field since the late 1990s. This has been done at a variety of companies, museums, and at the Swedish National Heritage Board. Besides the daily struggle with infrastructure projects, he has a keen research interest in Neolithic Scandinavia, megalithic monuments, and the final neolithization in the area. He has also been dedicated to the role of archaeology in contemporary society.