Legacy Collections and Climate Change: Challenges and Strategies at the Museo Etnográfico Doctor Andrés Barbero

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2025: Individual Abstracts" session, at the 90th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Legacy and orphaned collections are increasingly recognized as valuable resources for archaeologists and are gaining attention in scholarly discussions. These collections, often overlooked in the day-to-day practice of archaeology, hold significant cultural and historical value, particularly in institutions like the Museo Etnográfico Doctor Andrés Barbero (MEAB) in Paraguay. In 2023, a project funded by the Fondo Nacional de la Cultura y las Artes (FONDEC) was launched to reorganize and catalog MEAB’s archaeological collections, aiming to improve their accessibility and research potential. The following year, with support from the International Committee for Museums and Collections of Archaeology and History (ICMAH) and the Strategic Allocation Review Committee (SAREC) of ICOM, with the support of ICOM’s National Committee in Paraguay and Fundación La Piedad, the project expanded to develop strategies for enhancing infrastructure and conservation processes, addressing the vulnerabilities posed by Paraguay’s climatic conditions. Preliminary findings indicate significant progress in safeguarding the collections and emphasize the importance of community involvement, particularly through the engagement of volunteers from the Universidad Nacional de Asunción (UNA). These efforts highlight the potential for sustainable museum practices and provide a model for other institutions facing similar challenges.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 90th Annual Meeting, Denver, CO (2025)   •
• SAA 2025: Individual Abstracts

Keywords

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 51860