Technical Assistance in Curation and Relocation of Fort Vancouver Archaeological Museum Collections and in Developing Archaeological Public Educational Products
Project ID: P19AC01045
Federal Agency: National Park Service
Partner Institution: Portland State University
Fiscal Year: 2019
Initial Funding: $130,517
Total Funding: $183,422
Project Type: Technical Assistance
Project Disciplines: Cultural
National Park: Fort Vancouver NHS
Principal Investigator: Butler, Virginia
Principal Investigator: Klein, Charles
Agreement Technical Representative: Langford, Theresa
Abstract: This project will benefit the public by conducting activities to sustain and preserve the archaeological museum collections, held in the public trust, that involve the natural and cultural resources of FOVA and reflect the history of the Pacific Northwest. The technical assistance in this project in relocating the collection to a new museum facility, as well as upgrades to storage and records, will provide greater access to the museum collections and their associated information, including the development of educational programs and products to be shared with the public to promote these valuable cultural resources. PSU staff, students and/or volunteers will receive training and experience in advanced archaeological curation methods, as well as heritage site and resource management.
A. Overview
Investigators from PSU and NPS staff will collaborate to accomplish the following specific objectives.
1. Inventory and catalog archaeological artifacts from the FOVA museum collection and associated archives using the Interior Management Cataloging System (ICMS) or its successor, and create finding aids.
2. In tandem with inventory and cataloging, upgrade storage and housing of archaeological museum collections as necessary to aid in their preservation and access. This may include fabricating mounts and/or support cradles.
3. To aid in the long-term preservation of artifacts, conduct routine preservation conservation activities archaeological collections. These activities may include cleaning, and monitoring for agents of deterioration, including pests or fluctuations in temperature and relative humidity.
4. Provide photographic documentation of diagnostic artifacts, and upload catalog data and images to the NPS Web Catalog.
5. While relocating the museum collection to the new, consolidated facility, complete the associated inventory and location data updates as each section of the collection is moved.
6. Develop brief publications and/or conduct public educational programs designed to increase public knowledge of archaeological museum resources and their preservation.