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The accurate identification of biological remains from archaeological sites (“ecofacts”) is underpinned by comparison to specimens of known identity. Comparative material exists in natural history museums and in specialist reference collections in archaeological laboratories. Their scope includes seeds, pollen, phytoliths, wood and vegetative anatomy, animal bones, teeth and antlers, animal hair and skin, shells, and insects. These collections are used for morphological and anatomical comparison and, increasingly, for DNA and isotopes. Fieldwork to collect fresh material requires careful planning, including attention to permits and ethical aspects; reference material can also be obtained by gift or exchange from other collections. A variety of storage methods are used for reference material, appropriate to its format. Databasing to current standards is an important component of collection management that also enables pooling of data for distributed collections.