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The San Diego Archaeological Center (the Center) is a nationally recognized leader in the curation of archaeological collections, curating collections for the Department of Defense, City of San Diego and private parties. The Center accepts for accession archaeological collections to preserve in perpetuity for the benefit of the public. The Center makes every effort to make the collections available to the public as a cultural resource through educational exhibits, tours, volunteer opportunities, student internships and cultural use. Click here for a PDF of the following information.
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.
San Diego Archaeological Center Curation Fees January 1, 2008 |
|
Accession fee for collections packaged in accordance with the Center’s recommended Collection Preparation Guidelines(One-time fee, Center assumes title to collections) |
$700 per box*$100 per oversize object |
Curated collections (curated under 5-year, renewable curation contracts) (Owner retains title to collections) |
$180 per box first year,$60 per box per year thereafter |
Revitalization (bringing collections up to long-term curation standards) |
$250 per box |
NAGPRA assessment |
$150 per box |
*A box is a standard 15" x 12" x 10" archival storage box, 30 pound weight limit
The Center will employ its approved Operations Manual in regards to collections management procedures.
The Center will provide storage (housing and maintenance) for these collections in a manner that meets federal standards for long-term curatorial.
The Center will meet the Secretary of the Interior's Historic Preservation Proposed Revised "Professional Qualification Standards" of November 1994 for cultural resource consultants in the field(s) of prehistoric archaeology, historic archaeology, or curation and be able to provide long-term curatorial services as described for a repository in 36 CFR Part 79.
All of the work, with the exception of the effort involved in transporting the collections, will be conducted at the Center’s facilities in San Diego County, California.
All work performed under this contract will comply with health and safety regulations.
The Center will maintain insurance during the entire period of performance under this contract, the following minimum insurance coverage:
comprehensive General Liability: $1,000,000 per occurrence;
worker's Compensation as required by Federal and State worker's compensation and occupational disease statutes;
employer's Liability coverage: $100,000, except in states where worker's compensation may not be written by private carriers; and
other as required by State Law.
Center personnel will:
Conduct condition assessment to evaluate general condition of the collection, including:
condition of boxes, bags, bag labels, object labels and box labels;
organization of collection by material class separation and site number;
assess for evidence of mold, insects, pests and dirt;
assess for presence of computer data, catalogue, associated records, previous NAGPRA Inventory; and
document total number of boxes of artifacts and associated records, unboxed artifacts and estimated total number of artifacts.
Conduct catalogue verification and perform item-by-item verification of artifacts against provided catalogue and associated documents including:
document missing artifacts;
document non-catalogued artifacts;
identify and document particular conservation needs; and
The Center will furnish all facilities, materials, supplies and equipment necessary for inventory verification performed under this contract.
Collection Organization Services
Center personnel will:
catalogue collection according to standardized and improved nomenclature;
enter catalogue data on computer database;
reorganize collections according to material class, object name and material type;
organize artifact collection by site number and material class;
prepare inventory of each box for ease in locating individual artifacts; and
Center personnel will:
replace boxes, bags, bag labels, object labels with archival-quality materials;
copy associated documents onto acid-free paper and place in archival-quality boxes; and
place large documents, photographs, maps and other large-format associated documents in appropriate archival-quality containers.
Center personnel will:
provide all aspects of collections care and management as specified in the San Diego Archaeological Center Operations Manual;
label boxes and objects for curation;
place collection in storage area and record location;
perform daily monitoring of environmental conditions;
perform monthly and quarterly inspections and reports;
accept, evaluate and transmit requests for use of the collections;
provide assistance in use of collections, including access, processing loans, retrieval and replacement of artifacts;
accept and provide notification of requests to transfer or repatriate any collections (material remains or associated records) within 24 hours;
provide management in emergency situations;
provide security for collections; and
observe American Indian and culturally-affiliated group suggestions and directives concerning access, handling, storage, inspection, inventory, cleaning, conserving, labeling and exhibition of archaeological artifacts in consultation with recognized and approved American Indian advisors.
Center personnel will:
assess collection for items which may be subject to Federal NAGPRA and California NAGPRA, including human remains, associated and unassociated funerary objects, sacred objects and objects of cultural patrimony;
prepare a summary of unassociated funerary objects, sacred objects and objects of cultural patrimony for distribution to culturally-affiliated groups;
prepare an inventory of human remains and associated funerary objects for distribution to culturally-affiliated groups;
provide facility and staff for American Indian consultations;
observe special requests from culturally affiliated American Indians concerning the packaging, handling and transportation of objects destined for repatriation; and
administer and execute repatriation after notification in the Federal Register or California Repatriation Oversight Commission.
The Center will accept and consider requests for use of collections in accordance with the approved Center Operations Manual.
The Center will make collections available for scientific, education, and religious uses, in accordance with 36 CFR Part 79.
The Center will process any requests to transfer or repatriate any collections (material remains or associated records).
The Center will inspect and inventory the repository on a quarterly basis.
The Center will also make the collections containing religious items available to official American Indian representatives, religious leaders, and elders from American Indian tribes for which the remains have religious or sacred importance.
The Center will evaluate the general condition of collections on the installation, including:
evaluate condition of boxes, bags, bag labels, object labels, box labels and overall packaging;
evaluate of collections organization by material class separation and site number;
assess for evidence of mould, insects, pests and dirt;
assess for presence of computer data, catalogue and associated records;
assess need for NAGPRA summary and/or inventory;
document total number of boxes of artifacts and associated records, unboxed artifacts, estimated total number of artifacts; and
identify and document particular conservation needs.
The Center will prepare a report documenting the findings and an estimated budget for the upgrade of collection to meet 36 CFR Part 79 standards and our approved Collection Preparation Guidelines.
The Center will evaluate any on-site curation repository facilities, or plans for a repository, for compliance with 36 CFR Part 79 and National Park Service recommendations for curation facilities.
Our hourly rates for Assessment of Cultural Resources Needs are $120 per hour for a museologist and $75 per hour for a museum technician. These rates include materials, supplies, equipment, travel and per diem.
Archaeological exhibits are an efficient and effective way to share cultural resources with the public and base personnel. Center staff have many years experience using artifacts as visual, tactile and spiritual evidence of the cultures that make up our communities, keeping in mind the diverse interpretations and ethnic patrimony of the objects on exhibit. Center staff can produce temporary, semi-permanent and permanent exhibits.
The Center will meet with the designated Point of Contact (POC) to create an exhibit concept in accordance with the desired appearance, message, budget and appropriateness.
After review and approval of the exhibit concept, Center staff will produce the exhibit including text, images, text panels, artifact mounts and exhibit furniture.
Specific dates of installation and deinstallation will be reviewed with the POC.
The charge for Exhibit Planning, Design and Installation is $120 per hour for a museologist and $75 per hour for an exhibits preparator. These rates include equipment, travel and per diem. Consumable supplies and materials are not included and would be billed separately.
STAFFING
Key personnel will meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Historic Preservation Proposed Revised “Professional Qualification Standards” of November 1994.
Cindy Stankowski, Center Director
Cindy Stankowski received a Bachelor’s degree summa cum laude in Anthropology from San Diego State University and a Master’s degree in Museum Studies from San Francisco State University. She been with the San Diego Archaeological Center since 1996, leading the effort to preserve our archaeological legacy. Ms. Stankowski has led symposia on curation throughout the country and seeks new and innovative ways for the public to connect with the past, including exhibits, seminars and school presentations.
Margie Burton, Ph.D., Research Director
Margie Burton received a Ph.D. in Anthropological Archaeology from UCSD in 2004 and a MBA from UC Berkeley in 1979. Duties include promoting understanding of San Diego County's rich cultural history and the science of archaeology through collections-based research and dissemination of research results to the scholarly and general public. Dr. Burton’s areas of expertise include prehistoric ceramics and ground stone analysis.
Kelly Higelmire, Collections Manager
Kelly Higelmire received his Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in Anthropology and History from Sonoma State University and a Master’s Degree in American Studies from the University of Hawaii. Higelmire has participated in archaeological projects and held multiple museum internships in California, Hawaii, and North Carolina. In 2006, he received a graduate fellowship from the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education as the assistant curator of federal archaeological and historic collections at the Fort Bragg Artifact Curation Facility. He also served the Facility as an educator, conservator, and exhibit designer.
Annemarie Cox , Program Coordinator
Annemarie Cox received a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in Anthropology from San Diego State University, graduating on the Dean’s List in 1992. During that time, Ms. Cox interned at the Museum of Man, working on the major exhibit, Oaxaqa, Legacy of the Loom. She did a special studies paper titled Curatorial Practices in San Diego County by Public and Private Firms. For eight years, Ms. Cox was the museum director of the Vista Historical Society Museum, Vista, CA, where she was collections manager, curator, exhibit designer, education and program director. She joined the San Diego Archaeological Center in 2001.
For more information, please contract Center Director Cindy Stankowski at 760-291-0370, or via e-mail, cstankowski@sandiegoarchaeology.org.
Last Updated February 11, 2008
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Diego Archaeological Center