“Fresh” from the Field: Utilizing Legacy Collections for Undergraduate Research and Training

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2023: Individual Abstracts" session, at the 88th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Although legacy collections are rarely discussed explicitly in research and are often portrayed as subpar due to the lack of publication or the outdated excavation methods, we argue that legacy data is an important resource in archaeology. Legacy collections provide unique datasets that are both easily accessible and readily available. The Archaeology Lab at West Virginia University utilizes legacy collections in order to train students in artifact processing, analysis, and research. Our aim is twofold: to contextualize and disseminate archaeological data from legacy collections via publication and presentation and to promote such collections as useful tools for undergraduate research. In this poster, we present research projects with legacy collections from three sites—Oak Mound (46HS2), Blennerhassett (46WD1), and Brosius (46MN2)—to highlight how legacy data can provide new archaeological data after processing and research by undergraduates. As of spring 2022, we have trained 16 students, and three students have completed funded research projects using legacy data on loan from our partner institution, the West Virginia Archaeological Research and Collections Management Facility. This partnership has provided students the opportunity to gain knowledge and experience with archaeological data, and inspired them to continue working with legacy collections in future research endeavors.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• SAA 2023: Individual Abstracts   •
• Society for American Archaeology 88th Annual Meeting, Portland, OR (2023)

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 36682.0