Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Forum: Storage Wars. Solving The Archaeological Curation Crisis?, Morag Kersel

Morag M. Kersel

Whether sponsored by academic institutions, governments, international agencies, or private landowners, the results of archaeological investigations are the same: the production of knowledge and an accumulation of things. The material manifestations (artifacts and samples) and the accompanying daily notes, digital records, maps, photographs, and plans together comprise a comprehensive record of the past. Once these items have been amassed, they are deposited in dig houses, magazines, museums, repositories, storage containers, and sometimes in personal basements and garages to be held in perpetuity. Across the globe, storage (here implying curation and permanent care) is one of the most pressing issues facing …