diff --git a/OpenSim/Region/Application/OpenSimMainConsole.cs b/OpenSim/Region/Application/OpenSimMainConsole.cs
index e4590f27e7..7b1b4770bb 100644
--- a/OpenSim/Region/Application/OpenSimMainConsole.cs
+++ b/OpenSim/Region/Application/OpenSimMainConsole.cs
@@ -360,6 +360,19 @@ namespace OpenSim
                     }
                     break;
 
+                case "load-oar":
+                    m_log.Error("[CONSOLE]: Don't use me - I haven't yet been sufficiently implemented!");
+
+                    if (cmdparams.Length > 0)
+                    {
+                        m_sceneManager.LoadArchiveToCurrentScene(cmdparams[0]);
+                    }
+                    else
+                    {
+                        m_sceneManager.LoadArchiveToCurrentScene(DEFAULT_OAR_BACKUP_FILENAME);
+                    }
+                    break;
+                    
                 case "save-oar":
                     m_log.Error("[CONSOLE]: Don't use me - I haven't yet been sufficiently implemented!");
 
diff --git a/OpenSim/Region/Environment/Modules/World/Archiver/ArchiveReadRequest.cs b/OpenSim/Region/Environment/Modules/World/Archiver/ArchiveReadRequest.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0a3c4c5cc0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/OpenSim/Region/Environment/Modules/World/Archiver/ArchiveReadRequest.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) Contributors, http://opensimulator.org/
+ * See CONTRIBUTORS.TXT for a full list of copyright holders.
+ *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
+ *     * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ *       notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ *     * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+ *       notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+ *       documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+ *     * Neither the name of the OpenSim Project nor the
+ *       names of its contributors may be used to endorse or promote products
+ *       derived from this software without specific prior written permission.
+ *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE DEVELOPERS ``AS IS'' AND ANY
+ * EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED
+ * WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
+ * DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY
+ * DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
+ * (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES;
+ * LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND
+ * ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+ * (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS
+ * SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ */
+
+using OpenSim.Region.Environment.Scenes;
+using System.Reflection;
+using log4net;
+
+namespace OpenSim.Region.Environment.Modules.World.Archiver
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Handles an individual archive read request
+    /// </summary>
+    public class ArchiveReadRequest
+    {
+        private static readonly ILog m_log = LogManager.GetLogger(MethodBase.GetCurrentMethod().DeclaringType);        
+        
+        private Scene m_scene;
+        private string m_loadPath;
+
+        public ArchiveReadRequest(Scene scene, string loadPath)
+        {
+            m_scene = scene;
+            m_loadPath = loadPath;
+
+            DearchiveRegion();
+        }
+        
+        protected void DearchiveRegion()
+        {   
+            TarArchiveReader archive = new TarArchiveReader(m_loadPath);
+            
+            // Just test for now by reading first file
+            string filePath = "ERROR";
+            
+            byte[] data = archive.Read(out filePath);
+            
+            m_log.DebugFormat("Successfully read {0} ({1} bytes) from archive {2}", filePath, data.Length, m_loadPath);
+            
+            archive.Close();
+        }
+    }
+}
diff --git a/OpenSim/Region/Environment/Modules/World/Archiver/ArchiveRequest.cs b/OpenSim/Region/Environment/Modules/World/Archiver/ArchiveWriteRequest.cs
similarity index 96%
rename from OpenSim/Region/Environment/Modules/World/Archiver/ArchiveRequest.cs
rename to OpenSim/Region/Environment/Modules/World/Archiver/ArchiveWriteRequest.cs
index 364b31feb4..b952200e94 100644
--- a/OpenSim/Region/Environment/Modules/World/Archiver/ArchiveRequest.cs
+++ b/OpenSim/Region/Environment/Modules/World/Archiver/ArchiveWriteRequest.cs
@@ -44,9 +44,9 @@ namespace OpenSim.Region.Environment
     public delegate void AssetsRequestCallback(IDictionary<LLUUID, AssetBase> assets);
 
     /// <summary>
-    /// Handles an individual archive request
+    /// Handles an individual archive write request
     /// </summary>
-    public class ArchiveRequest
+    public class ArchiveWriteRequest
     {
         private static readonly ILog m_log = LogManager.GetLogger(MethodBase.GetCurrentMethod().DeclaringType);
 
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ namespace OpenSim.Region.Environment
 
         private string m_serializedEntities;
 
-        public ArchiveRequest(Scene scene, string savePath)
+        public ArchiveWriteRequest(Scene scene, string savePath)
         {
             m_scene = scene;
             m_savePath = savePath;
@@ -65,8 +65,6 @@ namespace OpenSim.Region.Environment
 
         protected void ArchiveRegion()
         {
-            m_log.Warn("[ARCHIVER]: Archive region not yet implemented");
-
             Dictionary<LLUUID, int> textureUuids = new Dictionary<LLUUID, int>();
 
             List<EntityBase> entities = m_scene.GetEntities();
@@ -103,7 +101,7 @@ namespace OpenSim.Region.Environment
 
             // XXX: Shouldn't hijack the asset async callback thread like this - this is only temporary
 
-            TarArchive archive = new TarArchive();
+            TarArchiveWriter archive = new TarArchiveWriter();
 
             archive.AddFile("prims.xml", m_serializedEntities);
             
diff --git a/OpenSim/Region/Environment/Modules/World/Archiver/ArchiverModule.cs b/OpenSim/Region/Environment/Modules/World/Archiver/ArchiverModule.cs
index cff9235b5e..0e3123e087 100644
--- a/OpenSim/Region/Environment/Modules/World/Archiver/ArchiverModule.cs
+++ b/OpenSim/Region/Environment/Modules/World/Archiver/ArchiverModule.cs
@@ -72,12 +72,12 @@ namespace OpenSim.Region.Environment.Modules.World.Archiver
 
         public void ArchiveRegion(string savePath)
         {
-            new ArchiveRequest(m_scene, savePath);
+            new ArchiveWriteRequest(m_scene, savePath);
         }
 
         public void DearchiveRegion(string loadPath)
         {
-            m_log.Warn("[ARCHIVER]: Dearchive region not yet implemented");
+            new ArchiveReadRequest(m_scene, loadPath);
         }
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}
diff --git a/OpenSim/Region/Environment/Modules/World/Archiver/TarArchiveReader.cs b/OpenSim/Region/Environment/Modules/World/Archiver/TarArchiveReader.cs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e785c6c3be
--- /dev/null
+++ b/OpenSim/Region/Environment/Modules/World/Archiver/TarArchiveReader.cs
@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright (c) Contributors, http://opensimulator.org/
+ * See CONTRIBUTORS.TXT for a full list of copyright holders.
+ *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
+ *     * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+ *       notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ *     * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
+ *       notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
+ *       documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+ *     * Neither the name of the OpenSim Project nor the
+ *       names of its contributors may be used to endorse or promote products
+ *       derived from this software without specific prior written permission.
+ *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE DEVELOPERS ``AS IS'' AND ANY
+ * EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED
+ * WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE
+ * DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY
+ * DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES
+ * (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES;
+ * LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND
+ * ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+ * (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS
+ * SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ */
+
+using System;
+using System.IO;
+//using System.Reflection;
+//using log4net;
+
+namespace OpenSim.Region.Environment.Modules.World.Archiver
+{
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Temporary code to do the bare minimum required to read a tar archive for our purposes
+    /// </summary>
+    public class TarArchiveReader
+    {
+//        private static readonly ILog m_log = LogManager.GetLogger(MethodBase.GetCurrentMethod().DeclaringType);
+        
+        protected static System.Text.ASCIIEncoding m_asciiEncoding = new System.Text.ASCIIEncoding();
+        
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Binary reader for the underlying stream
+        /// </summary>
+        protected BinaryReader m_br;
+        
+        public TarArchiveReader(string archivePath)
+        {
+            m_br = new BinaryReader(new FileStream(archivePath, FileMode.Open));
+        }
+        
+        public byte[] Read(out string filePath)
+        {
+            TarHeader header = ReadHeader();
+            filePath = header.FilePath;
+            return m_br.ReadBytes(header.FileSize);
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Read the next 512 byte chunk of data as a tar header.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <returns>A tar header struct</returns>
+        protected TarHeader ReadHeader()
+        {
+            TarHeader tarHeader = new TarHeader();
+            
+            byte[] header = m_br.ReadBytes(512);
+            
+            tarHeader.FilePath = m_asciiEncoding.GetString(header, 0, 100);
+            tarHeader.FileSize = ConvertOctalBytesToDecimal(header, 124, 11);
+            
+            return tarHeader;
+        }
+        
+        public void Close()
+        {
+            m_br.Close();
+        }
+        
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Convert octal bytes to a decimal representation
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="bytes"></param>
+        /// <returns></returns>
+        public static int ConvertOctalBytesToDecimal(byte[] bytes, int startIndex, int count)
+        {           
+            string oString = m_asciiEncoding.GetString(bytes, startIndex, count);            
+            
+            int d = 0;
+                        
+            foreach (char c in oString)
+            {
+                d <<= 3;                
+                d |= c - '0';               
+            }
+
+            return d;
+        }        
+    }
+    
+    public struct TarHeader
+    {
+        public string FilePath;
+        public int FileSize;
+    }
+}
diff --git a/OpenSim/Region/Environment/Modules/World/Archiver/TarArchive.cs b/OpenSim/Region/Environment/Modules/World/Archiver/TarArchiveWriter.cs
similarity index 99%
rename from OpenSim/Region/Environment/Modules/World/Archiver/TarArchive.cs
rename to OpenSim/Region/Environment/Modules/World/Archiver/TarArchiveWriter.cs
index c7492fe680..e951755814 100644
--- a/OpenSim/Region/Environment/Modules/World/Archiver/TarArchive.cs
+++ b/OpenSim/Region/Environment/Modules/World/Archiver/TarArchiveWriter.cs
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@
  * SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
  */
 
-
 using System;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.IO;
@@ -38,7 +37,7 @@ namespace OpenSim.Region.Environment
     /// <summary>
     /// Temporary code to produce a tar archive in tar v7 format
     /// </summary>
-    public class TarArchive
+    public class TarArchiveWriter
     {
         private static readonly ILog m_log = LogManager.GetLogger(MethodBase.GetCurrentMethod().DeclaringType);
 
diff --git a/OpenSim/Region/Environment/Scenes/SceneManager.cs b/OpenSim/Region/Environment/Scenes/SceneManager.cs
index 66174bfa05..63146bd6d3 100644
--- a/OpenSim/Region/Environment/Scenes/SceneManager.cs
+++ b/OpenSim/Region/Environment/Scenes/SceneManager.cs
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ namespace OpenSim.Region.Environment.Scenes
         public void LoadCurrentSceneFromXml2(string filename)
         {
             CurrentOrFirstScene.LoadPrimsFromXml2(filename);
-        }
+        }        
 
         /// <summary>
         /// Save the current scene to an OpenSimulator archive.  This archive will eventually include the prim's assets
@@ -209,9 +209,9 @@ namespace OpenSim.Region.Environment.Scenes
         /// their assets to the asset service.
         /// </summary>
         /// <param name="filename"></param>
-        public void LoadCurrentSceneFromArchive(string filename)
+        public void LoadArchiveToCurrentScene(string filename)
         {
-            CurrentOrFirstScene.SavePrimsToArchive(filename);
+            CurrentOrFirstScene.LoadPrimsFromArchive(filename);
         }
 
         [Obsolete("TODO: Remove this warning by 0.7")]