Numbering Methods applied on artifacts in some museums and cultural heritage institutions

Museums are designed for collecting, interpreting, displaying and the most important reason is for preserving rare artifacts for the longest possible period of time. When a new artifact arrives to a museum, it should have a special code or number called inventory number. These numbers are used to uniquely identify items and to add it to the data base. These numbers should serve as short hand for longer item descriptions. Sometimes numbers are applied on inaccessible places like the base or the back of big objects. Add to that the diversity in text shapes, colors and handwritings. Numbering is a vital process in museums; it provides a unique identification for each object. The number applied on an object refers to a catalogue number or accession number. Without numbering, objects cannot be tracked or utilized in a museum. When a cultural object inters a museum, it is given an accession number which is unique number for each object. This number is connecting the object with its own other information such as; documentation, description and current condition of the object. The number on an object allows the curator to track it easily and retrieve information quickly.