ABSTRACT
This part introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters. The part explores the principles and practices of working with archaeological collections. It deals with a pair of readings on the management of archaeological collections – an area that has often been described as being in crisis. The part presents archaeologists with the basics of collections management. It outlines five top concerns of curators in North America with archaeological collections: the failure of agencies and institutions to manage collections to professional standards and especially to deal with backlogs of uncatalogued objects and archives; the lack of museum staff and space to enable researchers, managers, and the general public to access archaeological collections; the housing of many bulk archaeological collections in substandard conditions; the need to incorporate deaccession policies into collection management plans; and the need for additional storage space of a suitable standard.
