An Archaeological Curation-Needs Assessment of Museum Property for the Bureau of Reclamation, Great Plains Region

At the request of the Bureau of Reclamation, Great Plains Region, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, S t Louis District (SLD), conducted a survey of museum property (archaeological collections and associated documentation) generated from archaeological Investigations conducted on Reclamation property in Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. Sixteen repositories In nine states curate approximately 2709.37 ft3 of artifacts and 217.79 linear feet of associated records. Each repository was assessed to determine its level of compliance with 36 CFR Part 79. Collections at each repository were examined and assigned tasks that require completion before they can comply with 36 CFR Part 79. From these tasks, SLD was able to estimate rehabilitation costs that Reclamation can use for planning purposes.

Once collections were examined, assessment teams captured information pertaining to the collections management processes available at each repository. Current systems are identified and assessed as to their compliance with 36 CFR Part 79, as well as requirements identified in the Department of Interior Departmental Manual (411 DM).