Inventory and Assessment of NPS Alaska Archaeological Collections at the Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology, Brown University

Description

Archeological field research on federal lands in Alaska were conducted under federal permits by representatives of Brown University as far back as the 1940s. These nationally significant collections are, and remain, the type collections for the Western Arctic, as well as the archived life¿s work of two of the Western Arctic¿s scientific pioneers-Louis Giddings and Doug Anderson. Cape Krusenstern and Kobuk Valley were established in part due to this archaeological work. As was common then, and currently an option, non-federal repositories such as the Haffenreffer Museum have cared for artifacts and samples collected under federal permit. Objectives: Developing Baseline Documentation: This project will provide a physical inventory and update to the museum database. Archeological collections obtained from federal lands remain the property of the federal government in perpetuity. Transferring Knowledge: Documentation will be given to park management and cultural resource staff to make the best decisions on long-term preservation, conservation needs, and access issues to non-federal institutions by researchers. Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) Compliance: This project may locate items subject to NAGPRA since it will inventory archeological collections. The objective of this Agreement is to conduct a comprehensive inventory of archeological collections in the care of the Haffenreffer Museum that originate from federal lands in Alaska currently administered by the National Park Service. During the course of the inventory, assessment of the condition of items will also be completed. The resultant inventory will allow NPS to establish formal museum object loans with the Haffenreffer Museum to adequately track, manage and support their long-term care.

Agency Contact

More from National Park Service