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Curating Archaeological Collections

From the Field to the Repository

Lynne P. Sullivan and Terry S. Childs

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.
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AltaMira Press
Pages: 162 • Trim: 6 x 9¼
978-0-7591-0402-0 • Hardback • March 2003 • $129.00 • (£99.00)
978-0-7591-0024-4 • Paperback • March 2003 • $44.00 • (£35.00)
978-0-7591-1630-6 • eBook • March 2003 • $41.50 • (£35.00)
Series: Archaeologist's Toolkit
Subjects: Social Science / Archaeology
Lynne P. Sullivan is curator of archaeology at the Frank H. McClung Museum and research associate professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Tennessee. S. Terry Childs is an archaeologist in the Archeology and Ethnography Program of the National Park Service in Washington, D.C.
Part 1 Series Editors' Foreword
Part 2 Acknowledgments
Part 3 1 Introduction
Part 4 2 A Brief History of Archaeological Curation in the United States
Chapter 5 The Museum Era of Archaeology: Nineteenth Century to the 1930s / Early Federal Archaeology Programs: 1930s and 1940s / The Postwar Construction Boom and the "New Archaeology": 1945 to 1970 / Making versus Caring for Collections: The 1970s and Beyond /
Part 6 3 The Current Status of Archaeological Collections
Chapter 7
Federal Legislation and Policy / Key Elements of the Curation Crisis / The Bright Side
Part 8 4 Repositories: What Are They, and What Do They Do?
Chapter 9
Kinds of Repositories / What a Repository Does and Why / Responsibilities and Training of Repository Staff / Conclusion
Part 10 5 Managing Curated Collections: The Basics
Chapter 11
Acquistions Policies and Practices / Accessioning / Cataloging / Collections Preparation: Labeling and Conservation / Storage / Inventory Control and Data Management / Deaccessioning / Public Access and Use / Conclusion
Part 12 6 Making a Collection: Fieldwork Practices and Curation Considerations
Chapter 13
Before the Field: Project Design / In the Field: Sampling and Conservation / In the Laboratory: Applying the Sampling Strategy and More Conservation / In Your Office after the Field Project: Records Management / Conclusion
Part 14 7 Working with a Repository
Chapter 15
Arranging for Long-term Curation / Using Curated Collections / ConclusionPart 16 8 The Future of Archaeological Collections Curation
Chapter 17 Access: Collections in the Computer Age / Use of Curated Collections / The "Big Picture": Curated Collections as Samples of the Archaeological Record / Encouraging Repositories to Curate Representative Samples of the Archaeological Record / Coordinated
Part 18 Appendix: Useful Internet Sites Relating to Curating Archaeological Collections
Part 19 References
Part 20 Index
Part 21 About the Authors
Curating Archaeological Collections is not a comprehensive handbook for conservation of Attic vases or Andean textiles, but it is a timely and useful summary of "best practices" for repositories. And that's what we need. Curating Archaeological Collections also offers a reasoned, but forceful call for resolution of the curation crisis. This book belongs on the shelves of every U.S. museum with archaeological collections, and on the reading list of every curator and collection manager who deal with those collections. And the reading lists of Federal and State agencies which oversee the care of old collections and production of new collections.
— Museum Anthropology


Curating Archaeological Collections, by Lynne P. Sullivan and S. Terry Childs, fills a conspicuous gap in training for students, archeologists, and agencies that manage collections.
— Common Ground


This volume, part of a new series designed to provide practical information to students and people studying archaeology, highlights the importance of considering curatorial issues early on in the design of archaeological projects.
— Oxbow Book News, Vol. 57, Autumn 2003


Curating Archaeological Collections

From the Field to the Repository

Cover Image
Hardback
Paperback
eBook
Summary
Summary
  • 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.
Details
Details
  • AltaMira Press
    Pages: 162 • Trim: 6 x 9¼
    978-0-7591-0402-0 • Hardback • March 2003 • $129.00 • (£99.00)
    978-0-7591-0024-4 • Paperback • March 2003 • $44.00 • (£35.00)
    978-0-7591-1630-6 • eBook • March 2003 • $41.50 • (£35.00)
    Series: Archaeologist's Toolkit
    Subjects: Social Science / Archaeology
Author
Author
  • Lynne P. Sullivan is curator of archaeology at the Frank H. McClung Museum and research associate professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Tennessee. S. Terry Childs is an archaeologist in the Archeology and Ethnography Program of the National Park Service in Washington, D.C.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
  • Part 1 Series Editors' Foreword
    Part 2 Acknowledgments
    Part 3 1 Introduction
    Part 4 2 A Brief History of Archaeological Curation in the United States
    Chapter 5 The Museum Era of Archaeology: Nineteenth Century to the 1930s / Early Federal Archaeology Programs: 1930s and 1940s / The Postwar Construction Boom and the "New Archaeology": 1945 to 1970 / Making versus Caring for Collections: The 1970s and Beyond /
    Part 6 3 The Current Status of Archaeological Collections
    Chapter 7
    Federal Legislation and Policy / Key Elements of the Curation Crisis / The Bright Side
    Part 8 4 Repositories: What Are They, and What Do They Do?
    Chapter 9
    Kinds of Repositories / What a Repository Does and Why / Responsibilities and Training of Repository Staff / Conclusion
    Part 10 5 Managing Curated Collections: The Basics
    Chapter 11
    Acquistions Policies and Practices / Accessioning / Cataloging / Collections Preparation: Labeling and Conservation / Storage / Inventory Control and Data Management / Deaccessioning / Public Access and Use / Conclusion
    Part 12 6 Making a Collection: Fieldwork Practices and Curation Considerations
    Chapter 13
    Before the Field: Project Design / In the Field: Sampling and Conservation / In the Laboratory: Applying the Sampling Strategy and More Conservation / In Your Office after the Field Project: Records Management / Conclusion
    Part 14 7 Working with a Repository
    Chapter 15
    Arranging for Long-term Curation / Using Curated Collections / ConclusionPart 16 8 The Future of Archaeological Collections Curation
    Chapter 17 Access: Collections in the Computer Age / Use of Curated Collections / The "Big Picture": Curated Collections as Samples of the Archaeological Record / Encouraging Repositories to Curate Representative Samples of the Archaeological Record / Coordinated
    Part 18 Appendix: Useful Internet Sites Relating to Curating Archaeological Collections
    Part 19 References
    Part 20 Index
    Part 21 About the Authors
Reviews
Reviews
  • Curating Archaeological Collections is not a comprehensive handbook for conservation of Attic vases or Andean textiles, but it is a timely and useful summary of "best practices" for repositories. And that's what we need. Curating Archaeological Collections also offers a reasoned, but forceful call for resolution of the curation crisis. This book belongs on the shelves of every U.S. museum with archaeological collections, and on the reading list of every curator and collection manager who deal with those collections. And the reading lists of Federal and State agencies which oversee the care of old collections and production of new collections.
    — Museum Anthropology


    Curating Archaeological Collections, by Lynne P. Sullivan and S. Terry Childs, fills a conspicuous gap in training for students, archeologists, and agencies that manage collections.
    — Common Ground


    This volume, part of a new series designed to provide practical information to students and people studying archaeology, highlights the importance of considering curatorial issues early on in the design of archaeological projects.
    — Oxbow Book News, Vol. 57, Autumn 2003


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