Services and Forms
For a collection delivery, please email collections@sandiegoarchaeology.org or call 760-291-0370 to make an appointment and request an invoice. All artifacts and ecofacts associated with the collection, associated documents, accession fee (if applicable), and conveyance documentation must accompany the collection unless other arrangements have been made in advance.
DROP OFF IS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.
| San Diego Archaeological Center Curation Fees 2023-2024 | |
|
Accession fee for collections and documents packaged in accordance with the Center’s recommended Collection Preparation Guidelines
(One-time fee, Center assumes title to collections) |
$1,200 per box* $300 for quarter box** $350/cubic foot per oversized item $150 collections processing fee (includes NAGPRA assessment) |
|
Revitalization (bringing collections that are lacking inventory, labels, etc. up to 36 CFR Part 79 standards) |
$250 per box |
|
NAGPRA assessment only |
$150 per box |
| Curated collections (curated under 5-year, renewable curation contracts) | Contact Center Collections Manager for contract rates |
*A box is a standard 15″ x 12″ x 10″ archival storage box, 30-pound weight limit.
**Quarter box pricing includes the 6 quart 4.875” x 8.25” x 13.625” archival shoebox for artifact storage, and document boxes containing archival materials related to the collection in either 15.25” x 10.25” x 2-1/2” and 15.25” x 10.25” x 5” size Metal Edge archival boxes.
The San Diego Archaeological Center houses many prehistoric and historic collections from San Diego County adjacent regions. The Center provides state and federally approved curation facilities for archaeological collections and related archival documentation that is mandated by various pieces of federal legislation and regulation 36 CFR Part 79.
The Center is equipped with over 5000 square feet of vault space that allow us to provide long-term curation and care for a wide range of archaeological materials, including artifacts, ecofacts, maps, photographs, and site records. Our curation facility meets or exceeds standards established in regulation 36 CFR Part 79.
In addition, we partner with local colleges and universities to provide a setting for volunteers and students interested in archaeology to gain hands-on experience working with archaeological collections. The SDAC has a diverse staff of professionals and technical support personnel. Our experienced staff has expertise in local, regional, and national collections management policies and practices.
A certain degree of standardization in collection preparation, cataloging, packaging, and organization is necessary in order to preserve collections, facilitate future research, and maintain inventory control. It is not the goal of the San Diego Archaeological Center to dictate research design, field methodology, or laboratory procedures to cultural resource management companies, but to work hand-in-hand with procedures already in practice while meeting the above standards.
Curatorial and Exhibition Services
The Center maintains archaeological collections in accordance with “The Curation of Federally-Owned and Administered Archaeological Collections” (36 CFR Part 79), State of California Resources Agency’s 1993 Guidelines for the Curation of Archaeological Collections, the National Park Service Museum Handbook, Part I, Museum Collections, culturally-affiliated American Indian and cultural group advice, professional museum and archival practices and any other relevant and appropriate recommendations as to the care of archaeological collections and archives in order to prevent degradation of collections by human or environmental factors. View a detailed listing of Curatorial and Exhibition Services.
Notice of Deficiencies
All collections will be inspected at the Center when they arrive. Collections that do not meet the minimum curation standards will be held in a temporary status at the Center and a Notice of Deficiencies letter will be issued to the owner of the collections or to the culture resource management firm. Deficient collections may be returned to the owner or delivering company if deficiencies are not resolved within thirty days.
Collection Preparation Guidelines
The Center has a strict policy when accessioning new collections or entering into curation contracts. New collections delivered to the Center must contain a site report, master catalog, information about inadvertent discoveries, a list of deaccessioned items with supplementary documentation, and conveyance documents. View the Collection Preparation Guidelines, which contains everything you need to know to make your archaeological collections curation-ready.
Curation Supplies: The San Diego Archaeological Center has archival-quality supplies available for purchase. We are able to purchase many items in large quantities and are happy to pass the cost savings on to you. Please let us know if there are any additional items you would like us to carry. Download the Curation Supply Form.
For collection delivery, please email collections@sandiegoarchaeology.org or call 760-291-0370 to make an appointment and request an invoice. All artifacts and ecofacts associated with the collection, associated documents, accession fee (if applicable), and conveyance documentation must accompany the collection unless other arrangements have been made in advance.
DROP OFF IS BY APPOINTMENT ONLY.
Conveyance Documents
Required Collection Documentation
The Center has a strict policy when accessioning new collections or entering into curation contracts. New collections delivered to the Center must contain a site report, master catalogue, information about inadvertent discoveries, a list of deaccessioned items with supplementary documentation, and conveyance documents.
Accession Agreement* – Use this form when you are submitting a collection for curation and the owner is transferring ownership to the Center.
Curation Agreement* – Use this form when the collection owner is retaining ownership of the collection.
Transfer Agreement* – Use this form when the collection is from a Federal or governmental agency.
Receipt of Collections – Print this form on your company letterhead and include it with your collection upon delivery.
*Forms revised 11/1/2023
Product Vendors
A listing of vendors providing archival-quality curation products at reasonable prices by email at collections@sandiegoarchaeology.org.
Publications by Request
The following publications are available from the San Diego Archaeological Center by mail or email (Microsoft Word format). Please indicate your preference in your request.
The Curation Crisis
Over the years, millions of archaeological artifacts have been recovered from public and private lands in San Diego. However, the vast majority of these artifacts were still, in effect, underground. Boxes and bags of archaeological artifacts were scattered among private cultural resource management (CRM) companies, public institutions and government agencies throughout San Diego – a true curation crisis.
The San Diego Archaeological Center, the first nonprofit, private organization dedicated to the care, management and use of archaeological artifacts, is attempting to restore these collections to cultural resource status. Our vision is to sustain an archaeological center in San Diego where artifacts will not only be cared for in a state-of-the-art environment, but where further professional research can commence and the public can enjoy learning about the prehistory and history of the San Diego region through educational programs and museum quality exhibits.
Since opening our doors in 1998, the Center has become a nationally recognized leader in the curation of archaeological collections. The Center has played an important part in the development of the concept of curation and the advancement of the discipline at a local and national level. Our “claim to fame” is that we return archaeological collections to the public as a cultural resource that they can understand, appreciate and value. Why Is Curation Important? Curation comes from the Latin word cura, meaning care. We define curation as the CARE, MANAGEMENT and USE of archaeological collections. Care means that you prevent deterioration, management means that collections are organized and accessible, and use means that you use collections for scientific research, public education or cultural use.
Respect: Curation is basically a matter of respect. Respect for the cultures represented in the collections, respect for ourselves and future generations and respect for the millions of dollars spent on the identification and retrieval of cultural resources.
Research: Curated collections will be available for the next generation of investigative technologies. Collections gathered just ten years ago, deserve another look with up-to-date tools and research models.
Mitigation: Curation after excavation is the only way to appropriately mitigate the negative impact of development or academic research on cultural resources. The laws and guidelines that have been enacted to protect cultural resources all contain a component of time, artifacts are supposed to be preserved for the future.
For more information about SDAC Collections, contact collections staff at collections@sandiegoarchaeology.org.