Battling Curation at Pickett's Mill
Disciplines
Other History of Art, Architecture, and Archaeology
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Foundationally, archaeology is defined as the scientific study of material remains, uncovered through survey and excavation. Material remains, such as ceramics, stone tools, natural material, historic artifacts, etc., are essential to archaeologists for understanding the past. In order to analyze these remains, they must be dealt with properly. One way in which site assemblages are dealt with is through the process of curation, which is the storage and care of assemblages for extended periods. This is a varying process across nations, states, and institutions. In the context of the United States, the National Preservation Act (1966), Reservoir Salvage Act (1960), and Archaeological Resource Protection Act (1979) provide standards for the long-term storage and management of archaeological material; however, curation standards tend to vary between institutions. Materials within collections are passed through the hands of three groups within this process: field technicians, lab technicians, and curators. How do these varying standards compare to one another? What types of problems arise during the curation process? How do too many hands on one collection impact the curation process? How does the curation process vary with different cultural materials? To explore these issues, an assemblage from Pickett’s Mill, a Civil War battlefield site located in Paulding County, Georgia, is to be prepared for curation at a state-recognized institution. Following the steps involved in the initial qualification for curation will provide insight into the issues lab technicians encounter in the curation process, as well as how to overcome them.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
RCHSS - Geography & Anthropology
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Terry Powis
Battling Curation at Pickett's Mill
Foundationally, archaeology is defined as the scientific study of material remains, uncovered through survey and excavation. Material remains, such as ceramics, stone tools, natural material, historic artifacts, etc., are essential to archaeologists for understanding the past. In order to analyze these remains, they must be dealt with properly. One way in which site assemblages are dealt with is through the process of curation, which is the storage and care of assemblages for extended periods. This is a varying process across nations, states, and institutions. In the context of the United States, the National Preservation Act (1966), Reservoir Salvage Act (1960), and Archaeological Resource Protection Act (1979) provide standards for the long-term storage and management of archaeological material; however, curation standards tend to vary between institutions. Materials within collections are passed through the hands of three groups within this process: field technicians, lab technicians, and curators. How do these varying standards compare to one another? What types of problems arise during the curation process? How do too many hands on one collection impact the curation process? How does the curation process vary with different cultural materials? To explore these issues, an assemblage from Pickett’s Mill, a Civil War battlefield site located in Paulding County, Georgia, is to be prepared for curation at a state-recognized institution. Following the steps involved in the initial qualification for curation will provide insight into the issues lab technicians encounter in the curation process, as well as how to overcome them.