diff --git a/OpenSim/Region/CoreModules/Avatar/Inventory/Archiver/InventoryArchiveReadRequest.cs b/OpenSim/Region/CoreModules/Avatar/Inventory/Archiver/InventoryArchiveReadRequest.cs
index c8697fe614..c12b65ac80 100644
--- a/OpenSim/Region/CoreModules/Avatar/Inventory/Archiver/InventoryArchiveReadRequest.cs
+++ b/OpenSim/Region/CoreModules/Avatar/Inventory/Archiver/InventoryArchiveReadRequest.cs
@@ -50,6 +50,12 @@ namespace OpenSim.Region.CoreModules.Avatar.Inventory.Archiver
     {
         private static readonly ILog m_log = LogManager.GetLogger(MethodBase.GetCurrentMethod().DeclaringType);
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// The maximum major version of archive that we can read.  Minor versions shouldn't need a max number since version
+        /// bumps here should be compatible.
+        /// </summary>
+        public static int MAX_MAJOR_VERSION = 0;
+        
         protected TarArchiveReader archive;
 
         private UserAccount m_userInfo;
@@ -126,7 +132,11 @@ namespace OpenSim.Region.CoreModules.Avatar.Inventory.Archiver
             {
                 while ((data = archive.ReadEntry(out filePath, out entryType)) != null)
                 {
-                    if (filePath.StartsWith(ArchiveConstants.ASSETS_PATH))
+                    if (filePath == ArchiveConstants.CONTROL_FILE_PATH)
+                    {
+                        LoadControlFile(filePath, data);
+                    }                    
+                    else if (filePath.StartsWith(ArchiveConstants.ASSETS_PATH))
                     {
                         if (LoadAsset(filePath, data))
                             successfulAssetRestores++;
@@ -448,5 +458,44 @@ namespace OpenSim.Region.CoreModules.Avatar.Inventory.Archiver
                 return false;
             }
         }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Load control file
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="path"></param>
+        /// <param name="data"></param>
+        protected void LoadControlFile(string path, byte[] data)
+        {          
+            int majorVersion = -1;
+            int minorVersion = -1;
+            string version = "ERROR";
+            
+            NameTable nt = new NameTable();
+            XmlNamespaceManager nsmgr = new XmlNamespaceManager(nt);            
+            XmlParserContext context = new XmlParserContext(null, nsmgr, null, XmlSpace.None);            
+            XmlTextReader xtr = new XmlTextReader(Encoding.ASCII.GetString(data), XmlNodeType.Document, context);
+            while (xtr.Read()) 
+            {
+                if (xtr.NodeType == XmlNodeType.Element) 
+                {
+                    if (xtr.Name.ToString() == "archive")
+                    {
+                        majorVersion = int.Parse(xtr["major_version"]);
+                        minorVersion = int.Parse(xtr["minor_version"]);
+                        version = string.Format("{0}.{1}", majorVersion, minorVersion);
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+                        
+            if (majorVersion > MAX_MAJOR_VERSION)
+            {
+                throw new Exception(
+                    string.Format(
+                        "The IAR you are trying to load has major version number of {0} but this version of OpenSim can only load IARs with major version number {1} and below",
+                        majorVersion, MAX_MAJOR_VERSION));
+            }       
+            
+            m_log.InfoFormat("[INVENTORY ARCHIVER]: Loading IAR with version {0}", version);
+        }
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}