Accuracy of Museum Volunteer Measurements: A Study of Projectile Point Measurements at the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture, New Mexico

Summary

In light of more and more museums relying upon volunteers, this study investigates the accuracy of museum volunteers taking measurements of projectile points for the purpose of documentation. Data collection was done by two archaeologists trained in lithic analysis, one anthropologist previously not trained in lithic analysis, and two retired volunteers with no previous training in lithic analysis. Volunteers received a crash course in measuring greatest length, width, and thickness prior to measuring hundreds of points from the individually cataloged collection at Museum of Indian Arts & Culture. Results of paired T-tests between categories of measurements indicated similar results between the archaeologists. However, statistical analysis between the archaeologists and previously untrained volunteers had various levels of significant statistical differences in various categories of measurements. This study also includes a discussion and analysis of re-measurements after additional training of volunteers.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 83rd Annual Meeting, Washington, DC (2018)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 20203