Archeological Collections Curation

The Museum Resource Center provides long-term storage and curation for artifacts recovered from historic and prehistoric sites throughout the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. The repository receives new collections every year, processes those collections for long-term storage, catalogs and organizes data relating to NCR archeological projects, and works with the Regional Archeology Program to develop best practices and standards for archeological collections curation.

NCR Archeological Field Sampling Guide

Introduction

This document is intended to provide collections sampling guidance for archeologists who are working in National Capital Region (NCR) parks. The purpose of this guidance is to facilitate consistency in the artifacts, specimens, and samples recovered and retained from archeological field projects; and to ensure that materials are appropriate for curation. There are three objectives for this field sampling strategy:

1. To reduce highly redundant and nondiagnostic artifacts in archeological collections.
2. Ensure that the final collection is a representative sample of the archeological resources identified during the projects.
3. To minimize time and resources needed to catalog collections.

When determining whether to cull an artifact, consider the park's characteristics and relevant resource specific research questions. Project objectives and park specific characteristics would be defined in the project scope of work. This sampling guide provides a regional baseline for object culling; the scope of work could override a particular aspect of these guidelines depending on the nature of the project and park. A guiding principle should be the Archeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA) and the professional determination of archeological/scientific and humanistic value of artifacts prior to accessioning and cataloging them.

This guidance outlines material that should be left in place, sampled, or discarded during archeological projects. This guidance does not cover field records created during archeological projects. Complete field records must be submitted to the appropriate park or repository upon completion of the project as required under ARPA and 36 CFR 79. Those responsible for deciding which artifacts to discard must meet the Secretary of the Interiors Qualifications for Archeology (48 FR 44716, specifically 48 FR 44738-44739) to identify the artifacts and their potential to yield data.

Methodology

The National Park Service (NPS) cannot curate bulk redundant materials in perpetuity. A selective sampling strategy should be employed concerning redundant and non-diagnostic bulk materials identified below in Table 1. These artifacts will be sampled for representative examples only. The remaining examples of such bulk materials must be quantified, weighed, documented on a discard log, and discarded in the field. The sampling strategy and discarded artifacts must be noted on the field forms and in the final report. No materials should be discarded without documentation or consultation with NPS curators.

It is important to keep sampling procedures consistent and well documented throughout the project, both in the field and the lab. If limited amounts of these materials are discovered, they will be retained. When possible and in consultation with NPS staff, archeological resources not collected will be placed back into the unit in which they were excavated and backfilled. Large or heavy artifacts that are impractical or impossible to collect must be measured, photographed, and noted. The report should justify why the materials were disposed.

All diagnostic material will be collected including complete artifacts or those with sufficient integrity to allow typological and temporal assignment. Diagnostic artifacts subject to degradation or deterioration should be identified for possible conservation (project scope/budget should consider funds for potential conservation needs).

Prior to cataloging, the archeologist or cultural resource management firm will prepare a spreadsheet detailing all recovered artifacts (including counts) and provide the list to the regional staff and the project Contracting Officer Representative (COR) if contracted for review. NPS qualified archeologists will review that list and identify materials that do not need to be accessioned into the park’s permanent collection; this will reduce the cultural resource management firm’s time spent cataloging the artifacts into the Museum Collections Management System. Deviation from, or alteration to the sampling strategy should be discussed with regional museum staff and the project COR.

Table 1. Arcehological Material to be Sampled in the Field - Organics

Organic Material Class	Field Collection Guidance
Shell and Coral	Retain all modified shell and sort by species. Count and weigh all unmodified shell and retain a representative sample of each species. Preferable to retain hinge fragments of those sampled for temporal markers.
Seeds, Acorns, and Other Botanicals	Non-archeological botanicals should be discarded. (e.g. acorns, surface wood)
Soil Samples	If collecting soil samples, there must be a plan for analysis and have prior approval from NPS staff in advance. Otherwise, do not sample or collect. NPS does not want to accession soil samples.
Faunal	Retain all within the archeological contexts. Surface finds should be discarded.
Textiles	Retain all when found within archeological contexts. Representative sample for unidentifiable examples.

Table 2. Arcehological Material to be Sampled in the Field - Inorganics

Inorganic Material Class	Field Collection Guidance
Brick	Retain all with maker’s marks and a representative sample of those without maker’s marks and those handmade. Do not retain brick fragments with no original surfaces.
Unmodified Stone	Do not retain.
Mortar	Retain any specimens with diagnostic features and retain an overall representative sample.
Wattle and Daub	Retain a representative sample.
Ceramics	Document but do not collect ceramics smaller than .5”x .5”. Retain all diagnostic sherds and consider representative sample of the remainder.
Glass, Bottle and Window	Document but do not collect ceramics smaller than .5”x .5”. Retain all diagnostic sherds and consider representative sample of the remainder.
Weaponry, Ammunition, UXO	Retain a representative sample small arms. If there is a potential that objects are unexploded ordnance, follow UXO protocols from SOW. Retreat to a safe area and immediately report it to the Park and COR.
Nails	If in good condition, retain a representative sample. Do not retain any unidentified fragments.
Plumbing Pipe (clay or metal)	Keep documentary record. Do not retain.
Wiring/Electrical	Keep documentary record. Do not retain.
Fencing	Keep documentary record. Do not retain.
Slag, Clinker, Coal	Keep documentary record. Do not retain.
Debitage	Retain all.
Fire Cracked Rock	Retain a representative sample of rock material types with provenience data. Retention preference to those with charcoal present.
Staples	Keep documentary record. Do not retain.
Unidentified Metal Objects	Keep documentary record. Do not retain. Retention is possible if there is a possibility of future identification and conservation.
Modern Objects and Trash	Do not retain.
Plastic Fragments	Do not retain. Unless, excavated from known domestic site with potential for Bakelite or celluloid – then retain.