Conservation of iron objects must begin at the time of excavation. An integral part of the success of a conservation program is proper field handling to ensure that maximum information is recorded for each object, that post-excavation storage is compatible with a planned conservation treatment and that systems for both recording and storage are compatible with the needs of the archaeologist during the period between excavation and treatment. This paper discusses an approach to the handling of large quantities of archaeological iron. The excavation of a 16th century Spanish Basque whaling station on the coast of Labrador is used as an example of the successful application of a conservation program in which in-field recording and storage played an integral part.