[BCMA] Adding accession numbers to archaeological items held in a repository

[Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv]

Hi Holly,

We also serve as an archaeological repository here in Maple Ridge, and my
advice would probably be to not add the museum’s accession numbers. Have
you asked Haisla Nation which option they prefer? In our case, we were
advised by Katzie First Nation to not add any further numbers to their
objects.

In any case, if you really want the accession number associated with the
objects, you can always make object labels to store with the objects. We
store our objects individually in small plastic bags with an object label
printed out on acid free cardstock with the provincial catalogue number and
other relevant info. That way we avoid any unnecessary markings on the
objects themselves.

Feel free to reach out if you’d like further assistance, happy to help if I
can 😊

Melissa
--
*Melissa Rollit*
*Museum Curator*
Maple Ridge Museum & Community Archives
curator at mapleridgemuseum.org
office: 604-463-5311

The Maple Ridge Museum & Community Archives respectfully acknowledges that
we have the privilege to work, learn, and play on the traditional unceded
territories of the Katzie and Kwantlen First Nations.


On Tue, 12 Dec 2023 at 16:38, Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv <
listserv at lists.museum.bc.ca> wrote:

> Hello all,
>
> The Kitimat Museum & Archives serves as a repository for archaeological
> materials uncovered in the Kitimat area, with the approval of the Haisla
> Nation. These materials include stone tools, animal bones, and
> glass/metal/ceramic objects, from both pre- and post-contact eras. They
> come to us with a number already assigned to them based on the site they
> were recovered at, ex. GaTe9:13. We then give them our own accession
> numbers like any other artifact, ex. 2023.40, for record-keeping purposes.
>
> What we're wondering is whether it's okay to physically add our accession
> numbers to the artifact, using the nail hardener and ink method (as we do
> for all our other non-paper/textile artifacts). Some of them already have
> the site number added to them, typed on tiny strips of paper that are
> adhered to the artifact. Would adding our own numbers damage the artifacts,
> esp. the organic ones? Furthermore, are the artifacts not truly 'ours' as
> we are merely a repository for them, and if that's the case, is it
> appropriate to add our numbers, or would it merely cause further confusion?
>
> If anyone can advise on this issue, it would be much appreciated.
>
> Thank you,
> Holly Peterson
>
>
>
> *Holly Peterson | She / Her*
>
> *Manager of Collections & Programming*
>
> Kitimat Museum & Archives
>
> 293 City Centre
>
> Kitimat, BC   V8C 1T6
>
> Tel:  250-632-8951
>
> Website:  www.kitimatmuseum.ca
>
>
>
> *The Kitimat Museum & Archives is located on the traditional and unceded
> territory of the x¯a’isla Nation.*
>
>
> _______________________________________________
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> http://lists.museum.bc.ca/listinfo.cgi/listserv-museum.bc.ca
>
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