Curation is rarely the first topic raised in an archaeological seminar or addressed in a fieldwork design. And, the authors point out, it is too rarely discussed at all. But the current crisis in repository space has increased awareness that the long-term conservation and preservation of the material remains and field notes of an archaeological project are as important as the finds themselves. Sullivan and Childs, two experienced archaeologists and museum professionals, provide an introductory guide to curation for archaeologists. Crucial to this process is the recognition of curation issues before the first day of fieldwork and continuous involvement of curators in the process throughout the archaeological project. The authors provide guidance on how to manage a collection, what to do with field notes and other project documents, how to find a repository for the collection, and how to adjust field practices so that the process runs smoothly. This brief, practical guide will be invaluable to all field archaeologists and their students, and to museum professionals who curate archaeological collections.

All archaeologists have responsibilities to support the collections they produce, yet budgeting for and managing collections over the length of a project and beyond is not part of most archaeologists training. While this book in the SAA Press Archaeology in Action Series highlights major challenges that archaeologists and curators face with regard to collections, it also stresses the values, uses, and benefits of collections. It also demonstrates the continued significance of archaeological collections to the profession, tribes, and the public and provides critical resources for archaeologists to carry out their responsibilities. Many lament that the archaeological record is finite and disappearing. In this context, collections are even more important to preserve for future use, and this book will help all stakeholders do so.

New Life for Archaeological Collections explores solutions to what archaeologists are calling the “curation crisis,” that is, too much stuff with too little research, analysis, and public interpretation. This volume demonstrates how archaeologists are taking both large and small steps toward not only solving the dilemma of storage but recognizing the value of these collections through inventorying and cataloging, curation, rehousing, artifact conservation, volunteer and student efforts, and public exhibits. Essays in this volume highlight new questions and innovative uses for existing archaeological collections. Rebecca Allen and Ben Ford advance ways to make the evaluation and documentation of these collections more accessible to those inside and outside of the scholarly discipline of archaeology. Contributors to New Life for Archaeological Collections introduce readers to their research while opening new perspectives for scientists and students alike to explore the world of archaeology. These essays illuminate new connections between cultural studies and the general availability of archaeological research and information. Drawing from the experience of university professors, government agency professionals, and cultural resource managers, this volume represents a unique commentary on education, research, and the archaeological community.

The purpose of this study was to better understand the relationship between cultural resource management (CRM) professionals and archaeological repositories, and how that relationship impacted the accessibility of archaeological collections. Current literature suggested that the curation crisis was negatively affected by the working relationship between CRM professionals and repositories. The curation crisis directly impacts the accessibility of archaeological collections. Data was collected from nine CRM archaeologists and two repository collections management professionals who participated in semi-structured interviews. The research was guided by questions revolving around job role perceptions, making archaeology accessible, and the general relationships between CRM and repository professionals. The results of this study provided support for calls to action for CRM archaeologists and repository professionals to work together, but found that there were certain times in which collaboration and contact were more useful than others. This study also found that developing personal relationships and understanding different perspectives was essential for creating constructive working relationships. This study was limited by the small sample size of participants. This study also did not interview tribal repositories or archaeologists - a limitation that leaves an opportunity for future work on this topic.

This book is a second edition of the author's Bachalor's Degree thesis, the re-publication of which was prompted by the realization that the original version had been downloaded from the author's website over 700 times in the past ten years. The purpose of this second edition is to include new, updated information on the described archaeological data management project, as well as to provide project status after ten years of use by hundreds of students at Santa Clara University.

"Collections: A Journal for Museum and Archives Professionals" is a multi-disciplinary peer-reviewed journal dedicated to the discussion of all aspects of handling, preserving, researching, and organizing collections. Curators, archivists, collections managers, preparators, registrars, educators, students, and others contribute.

Museum curators, archaeologists, and researchers have recognized that a 3curation crisis4 exists at various American institutions housing artifacts and other archaeological materials. While this is an international phenomenon, the crisis in the United States is linked with a recent history of cultural resource management (CRM)--and academic research projects--having a tendency to survey, excavate, analyze, publish, and move on to the next project, often with little regard for the long term curation of the collections. What happens to these artifacts? Will they be available for the future? Here I examine the literature discussing the curation crisis, as well as federal laws (e.g., 36 CFR 79) pertinent to collections issues. Then I present a report describing The University of Montana's Anthropological Curation Facility (UMACF) and outline the steps I took to bring the UMACF into compliance with 36 CFR 79. After considering the local and national curation crises within a framework inspired by the concept of value, I argue that the UMACF holds educational resources that are important to all of those connected to and interested in Montana's cultural heritage and as such they should be managed according to current federal regulations and laws.

"Collections: A Journal for Museum and Archives Professionals" is a multi-disciplinary peer-reviewed journal dedicated to the discussion of all aspects of handling, preserving, researching, and organizing collections. Curators, archivists, collections managers, preparators, registrars, educators, students, and others contribute.