Archaeology Collections
Overview
Guide
Table of Contents
Collections are excavation and restoration tasks that can be completed over and over. Each one will have a group of artefacts that are needed to complete it. Because artefacts cannot be traded players are forced to uncover the artefacts themselves. After that the artefacts must be restored and given to the collector. A player can only contribute any artefact in a collection to the collection once until it is completed. Once the entire collection is complete, they can once again contribute each item to the collection, but only once. For example, Art Critic Jacques' collection Imperial Impressionism contains the 'Solem in Umbra' painting, 'Consensus ad Idem' painting, and 'Prima Legio' painting. Should a player contribute the 'Consensus ad Idem' painting to his collection, then until the 'Solem in Umbra' painting and 'Prima Legio' painting are contributed to the collection and the player receives the reward for completing the collection, they cannot contribute another 'Consensus ad Idem' painting to that same collection.
All collections have a recurring reward that is given to the player every time they complete the collection, but several have one-time rewards as well. For example, Soran, Emissary of Zaros' Zarosian I collection provides the Seal of the Praefectus Praetorio relic when it is completed the first time, and every time after that it also rewards 20 Pylon batteries. In addition to these rewards, each restored artefact has a Chronote value based on its level that is awarded to the player when that item is contributed to a collection. For example, contributing a restored Hallowed lantern will award the player with 392 Chronotes.
The reward for a collection (regardless of whether or not it is listed in the collector information interface) will always include a number of Chronotes equal to or greater than the total Chronote value of a collection. For example, this means that turning in a complete set of artefacts to Sir Atcha for Saradominist II will yield a Tetracompass piece and a total of 6,504 Chronotes (each item's Chronote value plus the value of the entire collection, or 3,252 + 3,252). However, some collections have a one-time reward, such as the Zarosian I collection. The first time the colleciton is completed, the player is given a reward. Every time after that it will be a different reward from the first. For Zarosian I this would be a one time reward of the Seal of Praefectus Praetorio and 2,108 Chronotes, and then every other completion would award 20 Pylon batteries and 2,108 Chronotes.
Because each artefact is guaranteed to be part of a collection of a collector aligned with the god of a particular digsite and the Varrock museum collector, Velucia, wants every artefact for her collections, the vast majority of artefacts will need to be contributed to at least two collections in order for a player to complete every collection at least once.
The following table breaks down the various artefact collectors and their collections. The collection link to their location in the guide for your convenience. To get a better idea of a collector's location, click on their location image.
Turning in collections is by far the fastest way to get Chronotes, but sometimes the Chronotes aren't all you want. The rewards from different collectors yield different rewards, some of which are resources that can be put to excellent use. This section breaks down the best ways to get those resources.
Velucia's collections are without a doubt the best route to take when trying to obtain large quantities of Chronotes. As mentioned above, the Chronote value of a collection is determined by the artefacts it contains, each one having its own value. The collection reward on top of that is always larger when turned in to Velucia than to any other collector with the same collection. For example, turning Zarosian I in to Soran, Emissary of Zaros will reward a total of 4,216 Chronotes, but turning the same collection in to Velucia will reward a total of 4,743 Chronotes. The collections that yield that largest number of Chronotes are going to be those with the highest level, and those with similar levels will be larger if they contain a larger number of artefacts. That said, some simple number crunching has made it clear that overall Zarosian I (yes, the level 5 - 25 collection) has the best rate of Chronotes per hour. For players who are determined to get their experience, but still want to maximize their Chronotes, the following table details what collections of equivalent levels are best for Chronotes.
| Level Range | Best Chronote Rate |
| 25 to 35 | Zarosian I |
| 36 to 55 | Zamorakian I |
| 56 to 71 | Saradominist I |
| 72 to 80 | Saradominist II |
| 81 to 88 | Zamorakian II |
| 89 to 97 | Bandosian I |
| 98 to 99 | Armadylean II |
| 100 to 103 | Bandosian II |
| 104 to 106 | Zamorakian III |
| 107 to 115 | Zarosian III |
| 116 | Zamorakian IV |
| 117 | Saradominist IV |
| 118 | Armadylean III |
| 119+ | Zarosian IV |
*Please note that this was worked out using basic data. Should any of the math involve exponents, this table goes out the window.
Pylon batteries give large amounts of experience when turned into the pylon at the Kharid-et Dig Site. They are also used to charge the 8 Shadow anchors that are found in the Main fortress area of the dig site. This makes them a rewarding item to obtain when trying to level Archaeology quickly. All of Soran, Emissary of Zaros' collections award Pylon batteries upon completion, making them an excellent source for the batteries. In addition, because all of his collections contain only items found at the Kharid-et Dig Site, you will be obtaining them as you work on completing the collections before you turn any artefacts in to him. That makes his collections the absolute best way to obtain Pylon batteries. That said, completing Zarosian IV is not as efficient as completing Zarosian III because it rewards the same amount of Pylon batteries (100) and takes longer to complete because of the higher levels required for excavation.
| Level Range | Best Pylon Battery Rate |
| 25 to 80 | Zarosian I |
| 81 to 106 | Zarosian II |
| 106+ | Zarosian III |
While Robust glass isn't used in Archaeology, it is awarded to players who complete Chief Tess' collections. There are 4 of them, and they all award either 20 or 40. The problem with obtaining these collections in bulk is that they do not contain every Artefact from the hotspots you must excavate. As such, the difficulty lies in randomly obtaining the Artefacts needed. As such, players with the Master archaeologist's Outfit will find this much easier, thanks to the Fixate ability. However, the collections do not require level 99 or Guildmaster qualification to complete. The table below outlines what collection is most reliable (in terms of random chance for Artefacts) for obtaining large quantities of Robust glass.
| Level Range | Best Robust Glass Rate |
Fixates |
| 69 to 80 | Blingy Fings | 2 |
| 81+ | Blingy Fings & Smoky Fings | 3 |
Tetracompass pieces are the Treasure Trails of Archaeology, and have the potential to award players with the Dragon mattock or the elusive Guildmaster Tony's mattock. This makes them a fairly reliable source of money, as well as often awarding complete tomes and items that provide temporary buffs to a player's excavation. Many collections reward players with a Tetracompass piece upon completion, but when trying to obtain them quickly there are a few ways to do it more efficiently.
The first thing to keep in mind when picking which collection to focus on is the number of Artefacts the collection contains; More Artefacts means it will take more time to complete the collection. As such, Saradominist II is not an ideal choice because it contains 9 Artefacts. The second thing you should consider is the level of the Artefacts being collected. There are two reasons for this. First of all, Artefacts of higher levels take longer to obtain, making your time between completions of the collection longer. The other is that Artefacts of higher levels award more experience when excavating for them and restoring them. If you are doing these collections solely for the potential money, then lower level collections are going to be better for you. If you are trying to level your Archaeology at the same time, then that isn't as big of a deal. The table below breaks down what collections are best to camp for tetracompass pieces depending on your purpose for excavating and your Archaeology level.
| Level Requirement | Collection | Speed Value*+ | Fixates | Fixate Speed Value**+ |
| 83 | Green Gobbo Goodies I | 394 | 0 | 394 |
| 94 | Red Rum Relics I | 444 | 2 | 350 |
| 100 | Saradominist III | 552 | 0 | 552 |
| 116 | Zamorakian IV | 568 | 0 | 568 |
| 119 | Red Rum Relics III | 583 | 1 | 464 |
*The speed value is merely the sum of the level requirements for each Artefact in a collection: the higher the speed value, the longer the excavation will take and the more experience it will earn. This value works under the assumption that the player will get every Artefact from each hotspot due to random chance, rather than guarnateeing that they will only get the Artefacts they need for the collection by using the Fixate ability. Thus, the value of a hotspot is multiplied by the number of Artefacts it contains in total rather than by the number of Artefacts it has that are needed for the collection. For example, Red Rum Relics I contains two hotspots, one of which has 2 Artefacts of level 81 (162), and another that contains 3 Artefacts of level 94 (282), totalling at 444.
**The fixated speed value is merely the sum of the level requirements for each Artefact in a collection: the higher the speed value, the longer the excavation will take and the more experience it will earn. For example, for Red Rum Relics I the speed value is the sum of the hotspot level for the Ogre Kyzaj axe (81), the Ork cleaver sword (81), the Beastkeeper helm (94), and the 'Nosorog!' sculpture (94), or 350 in total.
+These values are not by any means perfect! They are there to give a general idea of what is faster or slower, but are not 100% on the nose!
Torn blueprint fragments are used to unlock the secrets of Ancient Invention at the Stormguard Citadel Dig Site. Players can choose to construct tradable or untradable completed blueprints, allowing players of lower levels to unlock them earlier. Once a player has unlocked all the blueprints, they can only make them in their tradable forms, which requires a larger number of fragments. This makes them a rewarding item to obtain when trying to make some money. All of Lowse's collections award Torn blueprint fragments upon completion, making them an excellent source for the fragments. In addition, because all of his collections contain only items found at the Stormguard Citadel Dig Site, you will be obtaining them as you work on completing the collections before you turn any Artefacts in to him. That makes his 3 collections the absolute best way to obtain Torn blueprint fragments.
| Level Range | Best Blueprint Fragment Rate |
| 81 to 97 | Armadylean I |
| 98 to 117 | Armadylean II |
| 118+ | Armadylean III |
The following tables break down the collections of artefact in order based on the level required to complete them with the level requirement to start them as a secondary attribute. If you are looking for a specific collection, it is highly recommended to navigate using the links in the table of the previous section. The collections of Velucia that align with the other collectors are broken down in the same sections.
- Collectors: Soran, Emissary of Zaros and Velucia
- Level Requirements:
- Start collection: 5
- Complete collection: 25
- Rewards:
- One time reward (Soran, Emissary of Zaros): Seal of the Praefectus Praetorio and 2,108 Chronotes
- Recurring reward (Soran, Emissary of Zaros): 20 Pylon batteries and 2,108 Chronotes
- Recurring reward (Velucia): 2,635 Chronotes
- Collectors: Isaura and Velucia
- Level Requirements:
- Start collection: 20
- Complete collection: 36
- Rewards:
- Collectors: Sir Atcha and Velucia
- Level Requirements:
- Start collection: 42
- Complete collection: 56
- Rewards:
- Collector: Chief Tess
- Level Requirements:
- Start collection: 47
- Complete collection: 69
- Rewards:
- Recurring reward: 20 Robust glass and 2,484 Chronotes
- Collectors: Sir Atcha and Velucia
- Level Requirements:
- Start collection: 61
- Complete collection: 72
- Rewards:
- Recurring reward (Sir Atcha): Tetracompass piece and 5,202 Chronotes
- Recurring reward (Velucia): 6,502 Chronotes
- Collector: Chief Tess
- Level Requirements:
- Start collection: 47
- Complete collection: 81
- Rewards:
- One time reward: Oo'glog wellspring, 40 Robust glass, and 2,204 Chronotes
- Recurring reward: 40 Robust glass and 2,204 Chronotes
- Collectors: Isaura and Velucia
- Level Requirements:
- Start collection: 45
- Complete collection: 81
- Rewards:
- Recurring reward (Isaura): Tetracompass piece and 5,146 Chronotes
- Recurring reward (Velucia): 6,432 Chronotes
- Collectors: Soran, Emissary of Zaros and Velucia
- Level Requirements:
- Start collection: 47
- Complete collection: 81
- Rewards:
- Recurring reward (Soran, Emissary of Zaros): 50 Pylon batteries and 5,732 Chronotes
- Recurring reward (Velucia): 7,165 Chronotes
- Collectors: Lowse and Velucia
- Level Requirements:
- Start collection: 70
- Complete collection: 81
- Rewards:
- One time reward (Lowse): King Oberon's mushroom spores, 50 Torn blueprint fragments, and 5,688 Chronotes
- Recurring reward (Lowse): 50 Torn blueprint fragments and 5,688 Chronotes
- Recurring reward (Velucia): 7,110 Chronotes
- Collector: General Wartface
- Level Requirements:
- Start collection: 76
- Complete collection: 83
- Rewards:
- Recurring reward: Tetracompass piece and 3,252 Chronotes
- Collector: Art Critic Jacques
- Level Requirements:
- Start collection: 24
- Complete collection: 89
- Rewards:
- Collector: Velucia
- Level Requirements:
- Start collection: 76
- Complete collection: 89
- Rewards:
- Recurring reward: 8,445 Chronotes
- Collector: Giles
- Level Requirements:
- Start collection: 70
- Complete collection: 90
- Rewards:
- One time reward*: Cosmic Pyramid
*Unlike most collections, this one can only be completed once. Once completed, the associated hotspots can no longer be excavated.
| Damaged Artefact | Restored Artefact | Restoration XP | Chronote value | Restoration Materials |
| Dragonkin remains, Level 70 | ||||
| Ceremonial dragonkin device (damaged) | Ceremonial dragonkin device | 4,666.7 | 602 | Orthenglass  Image last updated: Dec 21, 2021 Update Image? x 66 |
| Orthen rubble, Level 90 | ||||
| Ceremonial dragonkin tablet (damaged) | Ceremonial dragonkin tablet | 10,888.9 | 726 | Orthenglass Image last updated: Dec 21, 2021 Update Image? x 79 |
| Totals | ||||
| One of each damaged artefact, restored and then given to Giles |
14,646.2 | 1,574 |
Orthenglass Image last updated: Dec 21, 2021 Update Image? x 145
|
|
- Collector: Chief Tess
- Level Requirements:
- Start collection: 24
- Complete collection: 92
- Rewards:
- Recurring reward: 40 Robust glass and 5,136 Chronotes
- Collector: Wise Old Man
- Level Requirements:
- Start collection: 51
- Complete collection: 91
- Rewards:
- Collector: Chief Tess
- Level Requirements:
- Start collection: 24
- Complete collection: 89
- Rewards:
- Recurring reward: 40 Robust glass and 3,158 Chronotes
- Collector: General Bentnoze
- Level Requirements:
- Start collection: 81
- Complete collection: 94
- Rewards:
- Recurring reward: Tetracompass piece and 2,884 Chronotes
- Collectors: General Wartface
- Level Requirements:
- Start collection: 89
- Complete collection: 97
- Rewards:
- Recurring reward: Tetracompass piece and 3,758 Chronotes
- Collectors: Lowse and Velucia
- Level Requirements:
- Start collection: 85
- Complete collection: 98
- Rewards:
- Recurring reward (Lowse): 75 Torn blueprint fragments and 6,068 Chronotes
- Recurring reward (Velucia): 7,585 Chronotes
- Collectors: Sharrigan and Velucia
- Level Requirements:
- Start collection: 90
- Complete collection: 99
- Rewards:
- Collectors: Sir Atcha and Velucia
- Level Requirements:
- Start collection: 84
- Complete collection: 100
- Rewards:
- Recurring reward (Sir Atcha): Tetracompass piece and 4,548 Chronotes
- Recurring reward (Velucia): 5,685 Chronotes
- Collector: Velucia
- Level Requirements:
- Start collection: 94
- Complete collection: 100
- Rewards:
- Recurring reward: 8,057 Chronotes
- Collectors: Sharrigan and Velucia
- Level Requirements:
- Start collection: 101
- Complete collection: 102
- Rewards:
- Collectors: Isaura and Velucia
- Level Requirements:
- Start collection: 89
- Complete collection: 104
- Rewards:
- Recurring reward (Isaura): Tetracompass piece and 6,608 Chronotes
- Recurring reward (Velucia): 8,260 Chronotes
- Collectors: Art Critic Jacques
- Level Requirements:
- Start collection: 105
- Complete collection: 105
- Rewards:
- Collectors: Soran, Emissary of Zaros and Velucia
- Level Requirements:
- Start collection: 86
- Complete collection: 107
- Rewards:
- Recurring reward (Soran, Emissary of Zaros): 100 Pylon batteries and 7,442 Chronotes
- Recurring reward (Velucia): 9,302 Chronotes
- Collectors: Sharrigan and Velucia
- Level Requirements:
- Start collection: 106
- Complete collection: 108
- Rewards:
- Collector: General Bentnoze
- Level Requirements:
- Start collection: 97
- Complete collection: 110
- Rewards:
- Recurring reward: Tetracompass piece and 3,468 Chronotes
- Collector: Wise Old Man
- Level Requirements:
- Start collection: 29
- Complete collection: 114
- Rewards:
- Recurring reward: 6,775 Chronotes
- Collector: Wise Old Man
- Level Requirements:
- Start collection: 29
- Complete collection: 116
- Rewards:
- Recurring reward: 5,995 Chronotes
- Collectors: Isaura and Velucia
- Level Requirements:
- Start collection: 110
- Complete collection: 116
- Rewards:
- Collectors: Sir Atcha and Velucia
- Level Requirements:
- Start collection: 105
- Complete collection: 117
- Rewards:
- Collector: Art Critic Jacques
- Level Requirements:
- Start collection: 25
- Complete collection: 118
- Rewards:
- Collector: Wise Old Man
- Level Requirements:
- Start collection: 25
- Complete collection: 118
- Rewards:
- Recurring reward: 8,600 Chronotes
- Collectors: Lowse and Velucia
- Level Requirements:
- Start collection: 103
- Complete collection: 118
- Rewards:
- Collectors: Soran, Emissary of Zaros and Velucia
- Level Requirements:
- Start collection: 114
- Complete collection: 118
- Rewards:
- One time reward (Soran, Emissary of Zaros): Inquisitor staff piece and 6,810 Chronotes
- Recurring reward (Soran, Emissary of Zaros): 100 Pylon batteries and 6,810 Chronotes
- Recurring reward (Velucia): 8,512 Chronotes
- Collector: Wise Old Man
- Level Requirements:
- Start collection: 24
- Complete collection: 119
- Rewards:
- Collector: General Wartface
- Level Requirements:
- Start collection: 100
- Complete collection: 119
- Rewards:
- One time reward: Helm of Terror (outside) and 6,044 Chronotes
- Recurring reward: Tetracompass piece and 6,044 Chronotes
- Collector: Velucia
- Level Requirements:
- Start collection: 104
- Complete collection: 119
- Rewards:
- Recurring reward: 11,925 Chronotes
- Collectors: General Bentnoze
- Level Requirements:
- Start collection: 115
- Complete collection: 119
- Rewards:
- One time reward: Helm of Terror (inside) and 4,540 Chronotes
- Recurring reward: Tetracompass piece and 4,540 Chronotes
- Collectors: Sharrigan and Velucia
- Level Requirements:
- Start collection: 113
- Complete collection: 120
- Rewards:
Contributing restored artefacts to collections and donating them to the Varrock Museum are actions connected to various Archaeology achievements. Every collection listed above has an achievement of the same name that is awarded to players when they complete the corresponding collection. All of the other achievements are explained in detail here.
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