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Policy for Curation of Domestic Archaeological Collections that Are not the Property of the Phoebe A. Hearst Museum of Anthropology
The Phoebe A. Hearst Museum (PAHMA) currently curates many archaeological collections that are owned by other agencies or institutions. PAHMA will consider accepting new archaeological collections for curation only if they complement the existing collections in such a way as to strengthen the research value of our current holdings.
In order for a proposed collection to be reviewed for curation, the requesting agency (federal agency, contract archaeology firm, state agency, or similar institutions) must submit a research design for the planned excavations. This must include:
- planned excavation procedures
- names and CVs of field supervisors
- an estimate of the number of boxes that will be generated and made available for curation
- a statement about the possibility of human remains or funerary objects being found
- the time span of the excavation and an estimate of the arrival date
- an estimate of the temporal placement of the site
- a statement as to the research value of retaining the artifacts from this site
The initial contact regarding a proposal for curation should be made with Joan Knudsen, PAHMA Registrar by e-mail at: pakhet@uclink.berkeley.edu or phone: 510-643-6390 ext. 1. The Registrar will coordinate a review of the proposed collection with a committee of senior scientists, including the Curators of North American Archaeology and Biological Anthropology, and Museum personnel. This committee will review the research design to determine if the collection will complement the existing collections and will have substantial research value. The committee will make a recommendation to the PAHMA Director, who is responsible for the final decision about curation of non-museum collections.
Should the museum agree to accept a new domestic archaeological collection, several conditions must be met by the agency, including: compliance with NAGPRA requirements, proper preparation of the collection, valuation of the collection and insurance coverage, and provision of complete catalogue information. A formal business contract or memorandum of understanding must be reviewed and signed by both parties prior to acceptance of any materials at the museum. Guidelines are attached for preparation of artifacts, packaging, shipment and receiving, and cataloging.
It will be the responsibility of the agency to meet all of the requirements of NAGPRA (25 USC § 3001; 43 CFR Part 10) concerning planned excavations, including (but not limited to) consultation with all Native American tribes with standing with respect to the site/remains. PAHMA will require that copies of all such consultations be filed with the Museum. The agency should retain the originals. These consultation files will be reviewed before PAHMA will accept the collections for curation. It is the policy of PAHMA to not accession new human remains and funerary objects from NAGPRA eligible Tribes, unless the Federally Recognized Tribe that was consulted during the preliminary work requests in writing such disposition. In the absence of a Federally Recognized Tribe, the above mentioned PAHMA committee will make a determination as to whether to accept human remains or funerary objects for curation. It is the responsibility of the agency to meet all other NAGPRA requirements and their representatives must sign a hold-harmless agreement releasing PAHMA from all liability resulting from failure to implement NAGPRA requirements or any other law or regulations pertaining to the collection, including, but not limited to, Chapter 5 to Part 2 of Division 7 of the California Health and Safety Code and other applicable State laws.
Curation fees have been established and apply to all non-museum collections that the museum curates. These fees are subject to change without notice. The purpose of curation fees is to insure that the collections are housed to meet 36 CFR Part 79 standards as closely as possible. The per box processing fee for new collections covers the cost of processing the new material into the collection. The curation fee establishes an endowed fund to ensure care of the collection in perpetuity. PAHMA retains full rights to retain the entire curation fee and any growth in principal if the collection is withdrawn for any reason and at any time. The curation fee does not cover insurance for damage or loss while the collection is housed at the museum. It will be the responsibility of the agency to provide a valuation of the collection upon receipt. The agency will submit, on an annual basis, a certificate of insurance covering the collection. For collections that the museum already curates, a revitalization fee may be charged to bring storage conditions up to federal standards.
The agency will prepare, box, and ship the collection to PAHMA storage specifications. Guidelines will be provided and PAHMA retains the right to return to the agency, at agency expense, all boxes not meeting these specifications.
The agency will prepare catalogue information for all artifacts using a system specified by PAHMA. Guidelines will be provided and PAHMA reserves the right to return to the agency for correction catalogue information that is missing or insufficient. In the case of a Federal agency, all collection information must meet 36 CFR Part 79.
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