Technical Brief 13: Managing Archeological Resrouces from the Museum Perspective

Introduction Archeologists are beginning to rely more and more on curated collections as sources of research data. This trend is inevitable as the number of target archeological sites decreases. Yet, just as it is not possible to either preserve or investigate every archeological site, it is not feasible to preserve every artifact and sample in a museum in perpetuity. Informed decisions must be made about what to curate and these decisions will in effect determine the composition of archeology’s future database. As a consequence, the nature of the sample of the archeological record represented by curated collections and the suitability of this sample for long-term research must become major considerations in the management of archeological resources. The significance of curated archeological materials to research, education, and cultural heritage, the diversity and magnitude of these materials, and the associated costs of curation in perpetuity. Curation in the Context of Cultural Resource Management Curation as Resource Management The Ethical Dilemma in the Context of Research Museums The New York State Museum’s Collections: A Case Study of the Present Sample Mechanisms for Effecting Collections Management by Museums Steps toward Coordinated Regional Planning Acknowledgments References Cited End Note