9705.10.00 - Collections and collectors’ pieces of archaeological, ethnographic or historical interest

This HTS classification, 9705.10.00, specifically encompasses collections and individual pieces of archaeological, ethnographic, or historical interest. This category is designed to cover artifacts and objects that hold significant value due to their provenance from ancient civilizations, cultural traditions, or historical events. The emphasis is on items that provide insights into past human activities, societies, and historical developments.

It is crucial to distinguish this category from its siblings. While sibling categories at the same level might cover collections of zoological, botanical, mineralogical, anatomical, paleontological, or numismatic interest, 9705.10.00 is exclusively focused on human-made artifacts and their cultural or historical significance, rather than natural specimens or currency. The defining characteristic here is the direct link to human history, culture, or past societies.

Within this category, further subdivisions exist to provide more granular classification. The subcategories differentiate between archaeological pieces, ethnographic pieces, and "other" items. Archaeological pieces are typically those recovered from excavations and directly related to ancient human settlements or activity. Ethnographic pieces, on the other hand, generally pertain to artifacts representing the customs, traditions, and social structures of specific cultural groups, often from more recent historical periods than archaeological finds. The "other" category serves as a catch-all for items meeting the primary criteria but not fitting neatly into the archaeological or ethnographic definitions.