[Nhcoll-l] No-data archaeological material

[Harding, Deborah]

Wow! I didn't expect to set off a philosophical discussion. When I say "no-data", I mean tools without diagnostic features, with forms common to many parts of North America, without provenience even as to a cultural area or state. If the provenience says "Southeast", or "New York", that's enough data for us to retain it. A hammerstone [roundish rock, battered-looking] without context isn't going to tell you anything meaningful, and we have boxes of them.  The unprovenienced material takes up about 6 shelving units, and weighs hundreds of pounds.

I just wanted to know how other institutions handled the problem.  Thanks to those who contacted my directly with concrete suggestions.

Deb

Deborah G Harding
Collection Manager
Section of Anthropology
Carnegie Museum of Natural History
412-665-2608
hardingd at carnegiemnh.org<mailto:hardingd at carnegiemnh.org>

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"The day you stop learning is the day you start to die". The Rev. Thomas L. Small




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