Sigiriya came to the attention of antiquarians and, later, archaeologists. In Britain, the antiquarians Aubrey and Stukeley conducted early research into megaliths. These curios were the subject of interest of antiquarians. They were mass-produced, and received little attention from scholars and antiquarians. As such, they are avidly sought by both antiquarians and museums. On the whole nationalism was the preserve of antiquarians, not political activists. Antiquarians moved beyond political history to include institutions and religious and private life. Between 1801 and 1809 Nash worked with the antiquarians John Britton and Edward Wedlake Brayley.