The people of Kassel have been interested in northern Hesse's earliest history. As early as in 1708, Charles I, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel initiated the exploration of the barrows on Mader Heide heath near Gudensberg. It was one of the first archaeological digs in Germany. The "local antiquities" were shown to the public and had been on display at the Museum Fridericianum since 1779. Under Prussian rule, the museum finally became the "Centralsammelstelle der vorgeschichtlichen Altertümer Nordhessens", the "central collection point for northern Hesse's prehistoric antiquities", in 1875. Until recently, a large part of the objects found in the course of archaeological digs in northern Hesse was therefore added to the prehistoric and protohistoric antiquities collection's repository.

On its over 1,000 square metres, discoveries from all eras are stored here, including hand axes from the Paleolithic era, sherds of pottery dating from the early Stone Age to the Middle Ages, stone celts, jewellery and weapons from the Metal Ages, with the place and circumstances of their discovery and inventory numbers meticulously recorded. However, botanical remains, soil samples or waste from early modern settlements are also stored here. The finds archive is therefore an important place of reference for a number of researchers who focus on the pre- and protohistory of northern Hesse and the surrounding areas.