Letteratura scientifica selezionata sul tema "Archaeological repository"

ABSTRACTFormally established in the fall of 1947, the Laboratory of Archaeology at the University of Georgia is an archaeological research and collection repository. It is considered one of the premier institutions for curation of archaeological collections from the American Southeast. For over 70 years, the Laboratory has served as a repository for objects and associated records generated from archaeological projects and research undertaken by faculty, students, CRM professionals, and state and federal agencies. The Laboratory curates over 20,000 cubic feet of artifacts as well as paper and digital archives. In addition, the Laboratory houses the Georgia Archaeological Site File and manages data from more than 59,000 archaeological sites, including over 11,500 archaeological reports. In this paper, we explore implementation procedures for bringing legacy collections up to modern curation standards. We also outline how we migrate the data on paper records into the digital realm, articulating them within a comprehensive framework.

ABSTRACTFrom a perusal of archaeological and museum journals it is apparent that there is a rich literature dealing with topics such as the place of museums and repositories in anthropological research, engagement with indigenous/descendant populations by archaeologists working in a variety of settings (including collections-based research), and research centered on the study of existing archaeological collections. Despite this rich literature, however, the archaeological researcher who wishes to use collections in archives, museums, or repositories for the first time is often perplexed by how to gain access to collections, how to communicate with archive/museum/repository professionals, the constraints that archive/museum/repository professionals work under, and—at an even more basic level—what the difference between an archive, a museum, and a repository actually is. This article addresses some of these questions and provides a practical guide to opening up the vast research opportunities presented by existing collections.

Zooarchaeological specimens are the remains of animals, including vertebrate and invertebrate taxa, recovered from, or in association with, archaeological contexts of deposition or surrounding landscapes. The physical scope of zooarchaeological specimens is diverse and includes macro- and micro-zooarchaeological specimens composed of archaeologically preserved bone, shell, exoskeletons, teeth, hair or fur, scales, horns or antlers, as well as geochemical (e.g., isotopes) and biochemical (e.g., ancient DNA) signatures derived from faunal remains. Artifacts and objects created from animal remains, such as bone pins, shell beads, preserved animal hides, are also zooarchaeological specimens. Here we present recent work to utilize identifiers for archaeological samples in new data publishing routines, focusing on key challenges. One critical challenge is that archaeological samples are often composited into different units depending on managers of collections and analysts. Thus, in some cases, when migrating datasets for publication, identifiers can refer to different sets of units, even within the same dataset. Another key challenge is assuring that different repositories can share sample identifiers. We show how Open Context, a site-based archaeology-focused repository that also manages objects such as zooarchaeological material, and VertNet, a specimen-oriented biodiversity repository, have collaborated to share sample identifiers. While this illustrates a success story of linking data across repositories, we discuss the complexity of how “occurrence identifiers,” but not true sample identifiers, in VertNet are propagated to another system where the identifiers point to a similar record called “Animal Bone” in Open Context.

All too often, archaeologists have viewed curation as a process that manages, rather than investigates, archaeological and natural history collections. The curation crisis can be understood as the result of a serious imbalance between the continued generation of field collections and a corresponding lack of resources and facilities devoted to accessioning, analyzing, reporting, curating and otherwise caring for these collections. Researchers mistakenly prioritize ‘interpretation at the trowel’s edge’ with emphasis on excavation and field work, without considering the problem of how and where to store the objects they excavate. While legislation, Curation of Federally Owned and Administered Archaeological Collections (36 C.F.R. Part 79), was intended to ensure the long-term management and care of these resources, the absence of funding at the institutional and federal levels, nonexistent enforcement of the legislation through the National Park Service, and lack of compliance from field archaeologists, have resulted in collections throughout the United States being at risk of loss through deterioration, mismanagement, and neglect. I will demonstrate that accessioning, inventorying, cataloguing, rehousing and conserving are meaningful generative encounters between scholars, objects and collections staff, not simply byproducts of research. The need for an online database specifically set up for archaeological collections is suggested as a way to address the curation crisis. Implementing digitization will enhance preservation by reducing damage to the artifacts caused by physical handling. Persons working within the field will gain a better understanding of collections care and the collections transition to the repository.

AbstractThe 2018 SAA statement encouraging collaboration between archaeologists and “responsible and responsive stewards” included recommendations epitomizing decades of established practice at the University of Iowa Office of the State Archaeologist (OSA), a research center housing the State Archaeological Repository of Iowa. At the time the SAA statement was published, OSA staff were actively implementing a grant supporting transfer to the State Repository of the John and Phil Palmquist Archaeological Collection. This grant was designed to provide hands-on research experience for undergraduate students interested in archaeology and collections management while recording improved site locational data and artifact specific documentation, including on relatively rare (for the area) red pipestone artifacts. Although modest by some standards, the Palmquist Collection includes 860 artifacts from 26 locations recorded through 40 years of surface survey by the family in a portion of Iowa that is rarely the focus of professional archaeologists. This article provides a case study of responsible archaeological practice implementing SAA recommendations, including treating collector-collaborators with respect, encouraging collector assistance in the recording of finds, capturing research data from a private collection, and facilitating curation of privately owned materials. We include brief consideration of the impact of the Palmquist Collection on the understanding of southwestern Iowa archaeology.

AbstractCare of archaeological materials should begin when recovered in the field. Care and stabilization of objects in the field will greatly increase their research and exhibit potential. Identifying problems and understanding basic solutions to object care and stabilization is an important part of training for all potential object handlers. Proper care and stabilization of objects can and should be a priority for all object users—excavators, lab analysts, museum staff, and researchers. Constant dialogue and communication between repository specialists and archaeologists can be the most useful source for care of all archaeological objects.

ABSTRACTThe discipline of archaeology has been tolerating, at best, a “curation crisis” for decades that is unsustainable. The many issues related to long-term collections care continue to worsen. To counter this trend, we advocate that planning for collections be integrated into project administration from inception such that the management of archaeological collections begins before fieldwork and continues well after recovered collections reach the repository. To conceptualize this process, we identify the Collection Management Cycle as a framework for the many stakeholders involved in archaeological projects. We also provide a checklist that identifies the responsibilities stakeholders have to the collections they generate, fund, care for, manage, and/or study. Concerted use of the checklist and other proposed solutions will lead to a new era of a more sustainable archaeological practice.

Begho était la ville la plus peuplée en 1471 lorsque les Portugais sont arrivés sur la Gold Coast. C'était une ville de marché qui entretenait des relations commerciales avec Jenne, dans la région du coude du Niger, puis avec la côte. L'importance de Begho est relatée dans des manuscrits arabes et des documents européens, ainsi que par des récits oraux.Il y a peu d'informations concernant la pratique archéologique, les publications et les rapports de Begho depuis les dernières fouilles en 1979. Certains chercheurs ont problématisé cette situation et l'ont appelée le " mystère de Begho ".En 2017, le projet archéologique à Begho a été initié. Les objectifs de l'étude étaient d'évaluer et d'examiner certains documents d'archives des chercheurs précédents qui ont travaillé à Begho. Identifier et interroger les artefacts de Begho au Musée d'archéologie de l'Université du Ghana et mener une enquête archéologique, des fouilles et des investigations en laboratoire sur les artefacts.Une approche impliquant la collecte de documents et de dossiers d'archives tels que des notes de terrain, des plans de site, des cartes, des illustrations et des photographies à Begho depuis les années 1970 a été examinée. Sur la base de la source de données archivistiques, une recherche et une analyse rigoureuses des matériaux culturels de Begho conservés dans les réserves du musée ont été entreprises. Une enquête détaillée a été menée pour déterminer la taille de cette ancienne ville cosmopolite. Des fouilles archéologiques et l'analyse des matériaux ont également été menées.Cette recherche donne un aperçu de l'utilisation des documents d'archives et des artefacts du musée, qui sont des éléments clés dans la création d'un dépôt archéologique. Les creusets ont révélé des particules d'or et les dates radiocarbone confirment qu'à partir des années 1300, Begho était impliqué dans le commerce régional et à longue distance dans la sous-région ouest-africaine. Cette étude contribuerait à la discussion et à la création d'un dépôt archéologique, à l'archéologie des sociétés de l'âge du fer et des centres urbains au Ghana
Begho was the most populated town in 1471 when the Portuguese came to the Gold Coast. It was a market town which had trade connections with Jenne in the Niger Bend region and subsequently with the coast. Begho’s importance is recorded in Arabic manuscripts and European records and narrated through oral accounts.There is little information regarding the archaeological practice, publications and reports from Begho since the last excavations in 1979. Some scholars have problematized this and termed it the ‘Begho Mystery’.In 2017 the archaeological project at Begho was initiated. The objectives of the study were to assess and examine some archival documents of previous researchers who worked at Begho. To identify and interrogate Begho artefacts at the Museum of Archaeology, University of Ghana and to conduct an archaeological survey, excavations and laboratory investigations of artefacts.An approach involving gathering documentary and archival records such as field notes, site plans, maps, illustrations and photographs at Begho from the 1970s was examined. Based on the archival data source, a rigorous search and analysis of Begho cultural materials kept in Museum storage were undertaken. A detailed survey was conducted to determine the size of this ancient cosmopolitan city. Also, archaeological excavation and analysis of materials were conducted.This research provides insights into using archival records and museum artefacts; which are key components in creating an archaeological repository. Crucibles revealed gold particles and radiocarbon dates further confirm that from the 1300s onwards, Begho was involved in regional and long-distance trade in the West African sub-region. This study would contribute to the discussion and creation of an archaeological repository, the archaeology of Iron Age societies and urban centres in Ghana
Begho war 1471, als die Portugiesen an die Goldküste kamen, die bevölkerungsreichste Stadt. Es war eine Marktstadt, die Handelsbeziehungen mit Jenne in der Niger-Bend-Region und später mit der Küste unterhielt. Die Bedeutung von Begho ist in arabischen Manuskripten und europäischen Aufzeichnungen festgehalten und durch mündliche Überlieferungen belegt.Seit den letzten Ausgrabungen im Jahr 1979 gibt es nur wenige Informationen über die archäologische Praxis, Veröffentlichungen und Berichte aus Begho. Einige Wissenschaftler haben dies problematisiert und als das "Geheimnis von Begho" bezeichnet.Im Jahr 2017 wurde das archäologische Projekt in Begho initiiert. Die Ziele der Studie waren die Auswertung und Untersuchung einiger Archivdokumente früherer Forscher, die am Begho gearbeitet haben. Identifizierung und Befragung von Artefakten aus Begho im Archäologischen Museum der Universität Ghana und Durchführung eines archäologischen Surveys, von Ausgrabungen und Laboruntersuchungen der Artefakte.Ein Ansatz, der das Sammeln von dokumentarischen und archivarischen Aufzeichnungen wie Feldnotizen, Lageplänen, Karten, Illustrationen und Fotografien in Begho aus den 1970er Jahren beinhaltet, wurde untersucht. Auf der Grundlage der archivierten Datenquellen wurde eine gründliche Suche und Analyse der im Museum aufbewahrten kulturellen Materialien von Begho durchgeführt. Eine detaillierte Untersuchung wurde durchgeführt, um die Größe dieser antiken kosmopolitischen Stadt zu bestimmen. Außerdem wurden archäologische Ausgrabungen und Materialanalysen durchgeführt.Diese Forschungsarbeit bietet Einblicke in die Verwendung von Archivunterlagen und Museumsartefakten, die Schlüsselkomponenten bei der Einrichtung eines archäologischen Depots sind. Die in den Tiegeln gefundenen Goldpartikel und die Radiokarbondaten bestätigen, dass Begho ab 1300 in den regionalen und überregionalen Handel in der westafrikanischen Subregion eingebunden war. Diese Studie soll einen Beitrag zur Diskussion und Einrichtung eines archäologischen Fundortes, zur Archäologie der eisenzeitlichen Gesellschaften und städtischen Zentren in Ghana leisten

modelos numéricos son herramientas útiles para comprender el comportamiento de las estructuras. Sin embargo, contar con un modelo que se ajuste a la realidad es difícil debido a las variables que están en juego y a las simplificaciones que se asumen al construirlo. Para que un modelo sea confiable debe ser calibrado. Esta calibración se realiza comparando ciertos parámetros (por ejemplo las propiedades dinámicas) del comportamiento de la estructura real con los resultados del análisis numérico. Para identificar qué parámetros son los que tienen mayor influencia en el comportamiento de las estructuras es necesario llevar a cabo un análisis de sensibilidad. En este trabajo se presentan dos artículos publicados en congresos internacionales que muestran la calibración del modelo numérico de una estructura histórica ubicada en el sitio arqueológico de Chokepukio (Cusco-Perú). Esta estructura, que data de la época pre-inca (900-1300 dC), es un muro de albañilería de piedra asentada con mortero de barro. Los parámetros modales experimentales de la estructura se obtuvieron llevando a cabo una campaña experimental aplicando la técnica OMA (Operational Modal Analysis). El proceso de calibración se llevó a cabo utilizando un algoritmo de optimización de los parámetros que tenían mayor influencia en la respuesta dinámica de la estructura los cuales fueron identificados a través de un análisis de sensibilidad. El primer artículo titulado “OMA Tests and FEM Updating in Peruvian Archaeological Heritage: Chokepukio” fue presentado en el congreso del EVACES (Experimental Vibration Analysis for Civil Engineering Structures) realizado en la ciudad de Ouro Preto (Brasil, octubre 2013). En este artículo se desarrollaron tres modelos de elementos finitos usando el software SAP2000 y se calibró uno de ellos en base a los parámetros modales obtenidos en la campaña experimental. Los resultados de este trabajo sirvieron como herramienta preliminar para una posterior calibración automática. El segundo artículo titulado “Modal Identification Tests on Archaeological Heritage: The Case of Chokepukio” fue presentado en el congreso del IMAC-XXXII (A Conference and Exposition on Structural Dynamics) realizado en la ciudad de Orlando–Florida (USA, febrero 2014). En este artículo se presentan tres modelos de elementos finitos desarrollados en el software Diana TNO y uno de ellos se calibró en base a los parámetros modales obtenidos en la campaña experimental. Por último, se incluye un anexo que presenta una herramienta, desarrollada en el entorno de MatLab, para llevar a cabo un proceso automático de optimización en base a parámetros modales. Esta optimización se realiza minimizando el error de una función (función objetivo) que depende de las frecuencias y las formas modales de vibración, analíticas y experimentales. La herramienta de optimización automática consta de cinco módulos que incluyen: a) el ingreso de los datos de entrada, b) la resolución de ecuaciones para establecer la función objetivo, c) la aplicación de matrices de ponderación, d) la construcción de la función objetivo y d) el proceso de optimización. En este anexo se incluyen cuatro ejemplos de aplicación de la herramienta propuesta que se presentan según su nivel de complejidad, desde una viga con un solo parámetro de calibración hasta una estructura real con cuatro parámetros de calibración.
Tesis

We introduce a data-driven approach to aid the repairing and conservation of archaeological objects: ORGAN, an object reconstruction generative adversarial network (GAN). By using an encoder-decoder 3D deep neural network on a GAN architecture, and combining two loss objectives: a completion loss and an Improved Wasserstein GAN loss, we can train a network to effectively predict the missing geometry of damaged objects. As archaeological objects can greatly differ between them, the network is conditioned on a variable, which can be a culture, a region or any metadata of the object. In our results, we show that our method can recover most of the information from damaged objects, even in cases where more than half of the voxels are missing, without producing many errors.
Tesis

Abstract The United States has been in a serious ‘crisis’ regarding the storage and curation of archaeological collections since the 1970s when a number of federal, state, and tribal laws and regulations were issued to protect archaeological resources. As collections accumulated, repositories to curate and store them usually lacked space, trained staff, necessary funding, security, and research access. This chapter outlines the development of the curation crisis and its challenges, including costs, repository closures, ownership, orphan collections, creation and management of digital associated records, professional curation standards, and attitudes. The last section discusses the progress made to overcome these challenges through improved awareness, more use of collections, and cooperation among many stakeholders who have worked to create sustainable management practices.

Using examples hosted by the Digital Archaeological Record (tDAR) to illustrate good curation practice, this chapter discusses the problematics of archaeological data curation, management, and preservation as one of the main challenges that archaeology and heritage-related disciplines face in the 21st century. It presents a fact-based discussion of how archaeological data is typically produced in the U.S. and discusses internationally-accepted guiding principles such as the FAIR Principles and the DCC curation lifecycle and other best practices. The chapter defines and addresses relevant themes for this volume: What is digital data curation? Why is archaeological data curation important? Following a description of the work that tDAR and other digital repositories/institutions (e.g., Archaeological Data Service and OpenContext) spearhead to respond to the issue that data produced by older or current archaeological investigations are difficult or impossible to discover, access, and use/re-use, two examples from the American Southwest (the Pueblo Grande and the Eastern Mimbres Archaeological Project (EMAP)) are presented to demonstrate repository solutions for at-risk data sets.

This chapter provides a deeper discussion of the theories of meaning and communication that were employed by the experts involved in developing plans for nuclear waste repository marker systems. These linguistic, semiotic, and psychological models were more important to planners than archaeological models for the material form. These models emphasized the intentions of people creating messages with the intention of having them be understood by receivers. The models used are contrasted with the kind of semiotic approaches, especially those rooted in the work of pragmatic philosopher Charles Sanders Peirce, that contemporary archaeologists employ, in which rather than having preformed meanings conveyed by a vehicle, meanings are constantly emerging in practice.

This chapter provides a detailed description of the DIG Data Publication Initiative (DIG), which was partially supported by the Catalyst project. DIG is the UCLA Cotsen Institute’s new effort to establish an archaeological digital data publication service. The DIG team is not attempting to construct or maintain preservation services or a repository, and instead partners with institutions with this expertise and these services. By directly referencing the best practices and standards of the Linked Open Data movement, this chapter complements the section of the book on digital publication/data dissemination/data curation. This contribution is of interest to specialized and non-specialized readers, especially because it describes DIG as a fruitful collaboration between a university library and an academic unit.

Providing an introduction to the planning process for the Waste Isolation Pilot Project and the marker design that continues to be the basis of nuclear waste repository proposals in the United States, including for Yucca Mountain, this chapter lays the groundwork for consideration of the contradictions between opinions produced through expert consultation and the expertise of archaeologists. US government efforts described enlisted a variety of “experts” to propose alternative futures, identify models for communication over long spans of time, and assess the likely durability of proposed designs for a marker over nuclear waste repositories. To understand these expert reports, this chapter introduces the concept of an anthropology of common sense as a way to understand how government experts understood the archaeological sites that they offered as models.

History has always been a perennial source of man's keen curiosity and great interest. An ever-growing significance of Geosites, museums, monuments and sites of archaeological importance, the world over, is evidence to it. The tremendously growing tourism industry, in fact, has its origin in this very fact. Of late, alongside the concept of theme parks, the innovative idea of exploring the important sites revealing specific events (climatic, tectonic, thermal, magmatic, geomorphic, extra-telluric etc.) through geological history or associated with the evolution of mankind and the present day biodiversity as well, through the earth history of 4.6 billion years and also using them as a potential tourist resource is steadily getting ground. If exploration of prehistoric geosites and development of important sites for information, education and awareness of people could be judiciously integrated with tourism promotion, it may have synergistic implications as the sites would act as a unique touristic appeal and the tourism itself will support the former concept financially and otherwise, as well. India, on account of its unique geological history vis-a-vis physiographic, biotic and geoheritage manifestations of varied geo-events and consequently meteorological differences prevailing in, is one of the richest repository of varied geo-heritage sites including bio-sites studded with record and documentation of evolutionary lineages essentially needed to unravel the history of earth and understanding the palaeo-prevailed environmental scenario through earth's history and intensity of natural processes operating upon ever since the earth's origin. The present paper aims at comprehensively examining the prehistoric geosites in India, in an attempt to identify some of the areas with richer heritage in this regard. Some of the geologically more important sites with rich geoheritage and also prominent areas of tourism promotion are discussed in this paper, so as to conserve this invaluable treasure of earth history in the today's era of squeezing space on the face of rapid Industrialization and infra-structural developmental activities.

History has always been a perennial source of man's keen curiosity and great interest. An ever-growing significance of Geosites, museums, monuments and sites of archaeological importance, the world over, is evidence to it. The tremendously growing tourism industry, in fact, has its origin in this very fact. Of late, alongside the concept of theme parks, the innovative idea of exploring the important sites revealing specific events (climatic, tectonic, thermal, magmatic, geomorphic, extra-telluric etc.) through geological history or associated with the evolution of mankind and the present day biodiversity as well, through the earth history of 4.6 billion years and also using them as a potential tourist resource is steadily getting ground. If exploration of prehistoric geosites and development of important sites for information, education and awareness of people could be judiciously integrated with tourism promotion, it may have synergistic implications as the sites would act as a unique touristic appeal and the tourism itself will support the former concept financially and otherwise, as well. India, on account of its unique geological history vis-a-vis physiographic, biotic and geoheritage manifestations of varied geo-events and consequently meteorological differences prevailing in, is one of the richest repository of varied geo-heritage sites including bio-sites studded with record and documentation of evolutionary lineages essentially needed to unravel the history of earth and understanding the palaeo-prevailed environmental scenario through earth's history and intensity of natural processes operating upon ever since the earth's origin. The present paper aims at comprehensively examining the prehistoric geosites in India, in an attempt to identify some of the areas with richer heritage in this regard. Some of the geologically more important sites with rich geoheritage and also prominent areas of tourism promotion are discussed in this paper, so as to conserve this invaluable treasure of earth history in the today's era of squeezing space on the face of rapid Industrialization and infra-structural developmental activities.