what is an antiquarian

An antiquarian or antiquary is an expert in or student of antiquities and things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study the past with particular attention to ancient artifacts, heritage sites, or archives and manuscripts. Antiquarians are primarily students of ancient books, documents, artifacts, or monuments. They are interested in the empirical detail of the past and the recovery of historical information. Many antiquarians have also built up extensive personal collections in order to inform their studies, but a far greater number have not. The term "antiquary" was the usual term in English from the 16th to the mid-18th centuries to describe a person interested in antiquities, while "antiquarian" began to be used more widely as a noun from the second half of the 18th century.