diff --git a/src/serialization/list.h b/src/serialization/list.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d0fb7216
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/serialization/list.h
@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2014-2015, The Monero Project
+// 
+// All rights reserved.
+// 
+// Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification, are
+// permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
+// 
+// 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of
+//    conditions and the following disclaimer.
+// 
+// 2. 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.
+// 
+// 3. Neither the name of the copyright holder 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 COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "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 COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR 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.
+// 
+// Parts of this file are originally copyright (c) 2012-2013 The Cryptonote developers
+
+#pragma once
+
+#include "serialization.h"
+
+namespace serialization
+{
+  namespace detail
+  {
+    template <typename Archive, class T>
+    bool serialize_list_element(Archive& ar, T& e)
+    {
+      return ::do_serialize(ar, e);
+    }
+
+    template <typename Archive>
+    bool serialize_list_element(Archive& ar, uint64_t& e)
+    {
+      ar.serialize_varint(e);
+      return true;
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+template <template <bool> class Archive, class T>
+bool do_serialize(Archive<false> &ar, std::list<T> &l)
+{
+  size_t cnt;
+  ar.begin_array(cnt);
+  if (!ar.stream().good())
+    return false;
+  l.clear();
+
+  // very basic sanity check
+  if (ar.remaining_bytes() < cnt) {
+    ar.stream().setstate(std::ios::failbit);
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  for (size_t i = 0; i < cnt; i++) {
+    if (i > 0)
+      ar.delimit_array();
+    l.push_back(T());
+    T &t = l.back();
+    if (!::serialization::detail::serialize_list_element(ar, t))
+      return false;
+    if (!ar.stream().good())
+      return false;
+  }
+  ar.end_array();
+  return true;
+}
+
+template <template <bool> class Archive, class T>
+bool do_serialize(Archive<true> &ar, std::list<T> &l)
+{
+  size_t cnt = l.size();
+  ar.begin_array(cnt);
+  for (typename std::list<T>::iterator i = l.begin(); i != l.end(); ++i) {
+    if (!ar.stream().good())
+      return false;
+    if (i != l.begin())
+      ar.delimit_array();
+    if(!::serialization::detail::serialize_list_element(ar, *i))
+      return false;
+    if (!ar.stream().good())
+      return false;
+  }
+  ar.end_array();
+  return true;
+}
diff --git a/src/serialization/pair.h b/src/serialization/pair.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4913a74d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/serialization/pair.h
@@ -0,0 +1,96 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2014-2015, The Monero Project
+// 
+// All rights reserved.
+// 
+// Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification, are
+// permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
+// 
+// 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of
+//    conditions and the following disclaimer.
+// 
+// 2. 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.
+// 
+// 3. Neither the name of the copyright holder 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 COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "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 COPYRIGHT HOLDER OR 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.
+// 
+// Parts of this file are originally copyright (c) 2012-2013 The Cryptonote developers
+
+#pragma once
+#include <memory>
+#include "serialization.h"
+
+namespace serialization
+{
+  namespace detail
+  {
+    template <typename Archive, class T>
+    bool serialize_pair_element(Archive& ar, T& e)
+    {
+      return ::do_serialize(ar, e);
+    }
+
+    template <typename Archive>
+    bool serialize_pair_element(Archive& ar, uint64_t& e)
+    {
+      ar.serialize_varint(e);
+      return true;
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+template <template <bool> class Archive, class F, class S>
+inline bool do_serialize(Archive<false>& ar, std::pair<F,S>& p)
+{
+  size_t cnt;
+  ar.begin_array(cnt);
+  if (!ar.stream().good())
+    return false;
+  if (cnt != 2)
+    return false;
+
+  if (!::serialization::detail::serialize_pair_element(ar, p.first))
+    return false;
+  if (!ar.stream().good())
+    return false;
+  ar.delimit_array();
+  if (!::serialization::detail::serialize_pair_element(ar, p.second))
+    return false;
+  if (!ar.stream().good())
+    return false;
+
+  ar.end_array();
+  return true;
+}
+
+template <template <bool> class Archive, class F, class S>
+inline bool do_serialize(Archive<true>& ar, std::pair<F,S>& p)
+{
+  ar.begin_array(2);
+  if (!ar.stream().good())
+    return false;
+  if(!::serialization::detail::serialize_pair_element(ar, p.first))
+    return false;
+  if (!ar.stream().good())
+    return false;
+  ar.delimit_array();
+  if(!::serialization::detail::serialize_pair_element(ar, p.second))
+    return false;
+  if (!ar.stream().good())
+    return false;
+  ar.end_array();
+  return true;
+}
+
diff --git a/src/serialization/serialization.h b/src/serialization/serialization.h
index 177cdf33..dac43720 100644
--- a/src/serialization/serialization.h
+++ b/src/serialization/serialization.h
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@
 
 #pragma once
 #include <vector>
+#include <list>
 #include <string>
 #include <boost/type_traits/is_integral.hpp>
 #include <boost/type_traits/integral_constant.hpp>
@@ -59,6 +60,16 @@ struct is_blob_type { typedef boost::false_type type; };
 template <class T>
 struct has_free_serializer { typedef boost::true_type type; };
 
+/*! \struct is_pair_type 
+ *
+ * \brief a descriptor for dispatching serialize
+ */
+template <class T>
+struct is_pair_type { typedef boost::false_type type; };
+
+template<typename F, typename S>
+struct is_pair_type<std::pair<F,S>> { typedef boost::true_type type; };
+
 /*! \struct serializer
  *
  * \brief ... wouldn't a class be better?
@@ -75,20 +86,26 @@ struct has_free_serializer { typedef boost::true_type type; };
 template <class Archive, class T>
 struct serializer{
   static bool serialize(Archive &ar, T &v) {
-    return serialize(ar, v, typename boost::is_integral<T>::type(), typename is_blob_type<T>::type());
+    return serialize(ar, v, typename boost::is_integral<T>::type(), typename is_blob_type<T>::type(), typename is_pair_type<T>::type());
   }
-  static bool serialize(Archive &ar, T &v, boost::false_type, boost::true_type) {
+  template<typename A>
+  static bool serialize(Archive &ar, T &v, boost::false_type, boost::true_type, A a) {
     ar.serialize_blob(&v, sizeof(v));
     return true;
   }
-  static bool serialize(Archive &ar, T &v, boost::true_type, boost::false_type) {
+  template<typename A>
+  static bool serialize(Archive &ar, T &v, boost::true_type, boost::false_type, A a) {
     ar.serialize_int(v);
     return true;
   }
-  static bool serialize(Archive &ar, T &v, boost::false_type, boost::false_type) {
+  static bool serialize(Archive &ar, T &v, boost::false_type, boost::false_type, boost::false_type) {
     //serialize_custom(ar, v, typename has_free_serializer<T>::type());
     return v.do_serialize(ar);
   }
+  static bool serialize(Archive &ar, T &v, boost::false_type, boost::false_type, boost::true_type) {
+    //serialize_custom(ar, v, typename has_free_serializer<T>::type());
+    return do_serialize(ar, v);
+  }
   static void serialize_custom(Archive &ar, T &v, boost::true_type) {
   }
 };
@@ -328,3 +345,5 @@ namespace serialization {
 
 #include "string.h"
 #include "vector.h"
+#include "list.h"
+#include "pair.h"