Using and Curating Archaeological Collections

SAA Archaeology in Action Series
Published by the SAA Press

“While this book has great practical value for curators and collections staff, it is a worthy addition to the shelves of any archaeologist committed to ethical stewardship of the archaeological record.”
—Brooke M. Morgan, Midcontinental Journal of Archaeology 

“Using and Curating Archaeological Collections is a welcome addition to the ‘Archaeology in Action’ series by the SAA Press. With many examples of collaboration, research, and education; considerations for planning and budgeting for long-term curation of archaeological materials; and a comprehensive list of resources, this volume is sure to become a go-to resource for all those who create, study, or steward archaeological collections.”
—Caroline A. Parris, American Antiquity 

“The curation of archaeological collections is a chronic and challenging issue. This volume is an important contribution. It outlines the importance of archaeological collections to a variety of audiences; discusses many of the key challenges we all face; and provides a resource list for archaeological curation. It is a very helpful volume for anyone who is interested in any aspect of archaeological curation and collections management."
—Journal of the Council for Northeast Historical Archaeology

All archaeologists have responsibilities to support the collections they produce, yet budgeting for and managing collections over the length of a project and beyond is not part of most archaeologists’ training. While this book in the SAA Press Archaeology in Action Series highlights major challenges that archaeologists and curators face with regard to collections, it also stresses the values, uses, and benefits of collections. It also demonstrates the continued significance of archaeological collections to the profession, tribes, and the public and provides critical resources for archaeologists to carry out their responsibilities. Many lament that the archaeological record is finite and disappearing. In this context, collections are even more important to preserve for future use, and this book will help all stakeholders do so.