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Laboratory conservation and management
After statistical sampling is complete and the contents of a collection have been determined, the material remains and associated records can be processed and conserved for the long term. The necessary activities usually include labeling, object treatment, records arrangement and rehousing, packing, and project cataloging. As has been noted, repositories often charge for this type of initial processing if they do not formally own the collection. Consequently, this work is now often being done in the project lab by the principal investigator and his/her staff rather than at the repository. Conservation in the lab follows many of the same principles as conservation in the field. The treatments, however, are often more complex and geared towards active stabilization. Therefore, it is wise to seek advice from a professional conservator familiar with archeological material remains before beginning any treatment. Some key principles of lab conservation are:
After objects have been analyzed and stabilized, they should be labeled, cataloged, and then packed in containers for long-term care and management. This should be done in a manner that is consistent with the standards of the repository where the collections are to be housed. Details on packing, labeling, and cataloging of both material remains and associated records are discussed in a later section. Once these procedures have been completed, the collection is ready for long-term storage and management. Again, it is important to make sure that all procedures have been fully documented along the way. All the associated records must be given to the repository along with the collection.
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MJB/EJL