Many Voices in the Repository: Community-Based Collections Work

This collection contains the abstracts of the papers presented in the session entitled "Many Voices in the Repository: Community-Based Collections Work" at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

As archaeology evolves into a more open and community-focused field, one area with significant potential to bridge gaps between professionals and the broader public is collections-based work. Many problems faced in collections management have been part of larger conversations for decades, including how to partner with communities, how best to revitalize the potential of “orphaned” and legacy collections, how to meet the needs of a diverse array of stakeholders, and how to ethically protect and provide access to material culture. Moreover, with increased recognition that responsible archaeology must prioritize a long-term plan for collections and data generated by fieldwork, archaeologists and their community partners are developing creative approaches that both improve long-term care and lower barriers to accessing archaeological work and its products. This session addresses many of these issues with concrete examples of how those working in repositories, agencies, academic, CRM, and avocational settings continue to work toward the preservation of our past for future generations. The goal of this session is to bring together those interested in community and collections relationships to discuss successes and failures in a collaborative setting to build a more inclusive future in our field.