Thinking Inside the Box: A Mann Site Rehousing Case-Study Exploring the Idiosyncrasies of a Legacy Collection

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Date

2017

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Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology, Indiana University

Abstract

Rehousing projects are a necessity for stabilizing poorly curated collections of the past, yet the specifics of what rehousing entails and unearths is not often given the opportunity to be critically examined as its own subject for research. Reporting the costs of rehousing bulk archaeological materials, in both time and money spent is only part of this. I also examine specific issues that accrue within one of the Glenn A. Black Laboratory’s Mann Site (12Po2) legacy collections over years of sporadic use without a thorough standard for managing its usage, and suggest how to remedy those issues using real examples. Since a primary cause for the majority of the problems to be discussed (e.g. missing and orphaned artifacts, alteration of primary data, etc.) are rooted in poor records keeping, I have found it necessary to also explore how one might rebuild an accession’s file using the data that resurfaces from rehousing, along with other institutional records. From this project, I hope it will be made clear what new features will need to be added to existing curatorial and collections management policies , such that this document will act as a guide for rehousing similar collections.

Description

Abstracts are made available for research purposes. To view the full report, please contact the staff of the Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology (www.gbl.indiana.edu)

Keywords

archaeological report

Citation

Elliott, Alexandra E. 2017. "Thinking Inside the Box: A Mann Site Rehousing Case-Study Exploring the Idiosyncrasies of a Legacy Collection," Glenn A. Black Laboratory of Archaeology Report of Investigation 17-01

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Digital reproductions of reports from the Glenn A. Black Laboratory are made available for noncommercial, educational, and research purposes only. Copyright is reserved for the Trustees of Indiana University.

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Technical Report