Standards for Artifact Collections

Standards for Artifact Collections. A. All artifacts must be organized by site and provenience within each site. All materials separated out for photos, etc. should be re-incorporated into their original provenience. B. All artifacts must be contained in a 4 mil polyethelene “zip lock” type bags with a white panel area for descriptions. Sandwhich bags, freezer bags, paper bags and all other kinds of bags are not appropriate and will not be accepted. All provenience information will be written in the white panel area of the bag in permanent black marker (i.e. sharpie marker/pen). Bags must be punched with a standard hole punch near the top of the bag to allow air/moisture to escape. Faunal remains/human remains can be placed in a paper bag inside a plastic 4 mil polyethelene zip lock bag. Soil samples also need to be placed in 4 mil polyethelene bags but can be secured with string or wire. Fragile items must be packed in acid free paper and placed inside MDAH approved archival boxes. C. All artifacts and records will be re-packed into the standard MDAH box after they arrive and are assessed. Artifacts and records therefore can be shipped in a manner left up to the submitter. Each box must contain 2 copies of bag by bag inventory of its contents. Inventory information must include but is not limited to: 1. site number, 2. provenience, 3. type of material and 4. catalog number. The charge for re-boxing is $50.00.