--- a/artifact-database/src/main/java/de/intevation/artifactdatabase/ArtifactDatabaseImpl.java	Wed Jul 13 13:12:08 2011 +0000
+++ b/artifact-database/src/main/java/de/intevation/artifactdatabase/ArtifactDatabaseImpl.java	Thu Jul 14 14:22:23 2011 +0000
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 import de.intevation.artifacts.CallContext;
 import de.intevation.artifacts.CallMeta;
 import de.intevation.artifacts.CollectionItem;
+import de.intevation.artifacts.GlobalContext;
 import de.intevation.artifacts.Hook;
 import de.intevation.artifacts.Service;
 import de.intevation.artifacts.ServiceFactory;
@@ -68,6 +69,10 @@
     private static Logger logger =
         Logger.getLogger(ArtifactDatabaseImpl.class);
 
+    /** The key under which the artifact database is stored in the global
+     * context.*/
+    public static final String GLOBAL_CONTEXT_KEY = "global.artifact.database";
+
     /** Message that is returned if an operation was successful.*/
     public static final String OPERATION_SUCCESSFUL =
         "SUCCESS";
@@ -403,7 +408,7 @@
     /**
      * Reference of the global context of the artifact runtime system.
      */
-    protected Object      context;
+    protected GlobalContext context;
 
     /**
      * The signing secret to be used for ex-/importing artifacts.
@@ -463,7 +468,9 @@
         setupCallContextListener(bootstrap);
         setupHooks(bootstrap);
 
-        context      = bootstrap.getContext();
+        context = bootstrap.getContext();
+        context.put(GLOBAL_CONTEXT_KEY, this);
+
         exportSecret = bootstrap.getExportSecret();
 
         wireWithBackend(backend);
@@ -713,6 +720,20 @@
         }
     }
 
+
+    public Artifact getRawArtifact(String identifier)
+    throws ArtifactDatabaseException
+    {
+        PersistentArtifact artifact = backend.getArtifact(identifier);
+
+        if (artifact == null) {
+            throw new ArtifactDatabaseException(NO_SUCH_ARTIFACT);
+        }
+
+        return artifact.getArtifact();
+    }
+
+
     public Document describe(
         String   identifier,
         Document data,