Survey says…: Using archaeological lenses and conservation assessment tools to influence curation

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Current Research in Maritime Archaeology" session, at the 2019 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

Museums’ often collect around broad themes, which can lead to the acquisition of artifacts based on varied criteria like time period, culture, technology, condition, monetary value, aesthetic appeal, and rarity. This is the case for The Mariners’ Museum and Park, where "we connect people to the world’s waterways". With such an expansive scope - and almost 32,000 three-dimensional objects, collected since 1930 - how can one possibly prioritize interpretation, research, and care? This question, combined with the need to address inadequate storage of a portion of the collection, led Museum personnel to develop a survey system that combines archaeological lenses and recording techniques with conservation assessment tools; the goal - to better understand interpretive value (typological and story-based) and artifacts’ conservation needs. With revision, this survey will be applicable to other collections to help re-focus museum prioritization on historical and cultural interpretation and collections care. 

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for Historical Archaeology 2019   •
• Current Research in Maritime Archaeology

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Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 164