Computerization of Anthropology Collection Records at the Museum of Northern Arizona

从1928年开始，亚利桑那州北部的州、联邦和部落机构开始将他们管辖的土地上产生的考古收藏品委托给北亚利桑那州博物馆保管。结果是关于科罗拉多高原地区史前和历史的大量数据。材料包括近200,000件编目的文物--几乎所有这些文物都来自有出处的背景，并附有包括文化、遗址和时间段在内的文件。除此之外，还有大量的收藏品，还附有挖掘信息。一个广泛的民族志收藏，主要集中在霍皮和纳瓦霍材料，大约有10,000件。考古和民族志收藏品都具有很高的研究价值和集约化利用。然而，伴随它们而来的关键文件并没有得到很好的组织。它正在恶化，而且由于其数量庞大，很难组织和获取。在国家科学基金会的支持下，博物馆将把这些材料计算机化，以便交叉参考个人记录，并提供更好的访问权限。这将最大限度地减少直接使用，从而减少纸质记录的恶化。威尔科克斯博士和他的同事们将购买Questor-Argus系统，这是专门为博物馆藏品管理设计的。这个项目很重要，因为它将防止重大科学材料的变质，其中许多材料是由联邦基金获得的。它将增加博物馆人类学收藏品对希望使用它们的研究人员的访问。这些材料不仅对考古学家和人种学家很重要，而且对对自己的传统感兴趣的当地美洲原住民群体也很重要。

Beginning in 1928, state, federal, and tribal agencies in northern Arizona began entrusting archaeological collections generated from lands under their jurisdiction to the Museum of Northern Arizona's care. The result is an body of data on both the prehistory and history of the Colorado Plateau region. Materials include almost 200,000 catalogued artifacts - almost all from provenienced contexts with accompanying documentation including culture, site, and time period. Added to this are bulk collections which also are accompanied by excavation information. An extensive ethnographic collection which focusses primarily on Hopi and Navaho materials numbers approximately 10,000 pieces. Both archaeological and ethnographic collections are of great research value and subject to intensive use. However, the crucial documentation which accompanies them is not well organized. It is deteriorating and because of its volume, difficult to organize and access. With NSF support the Museum will computerize this material in order to cross reference individual records and provide greater accessibility. This will minimize direct use and, therefore, the deterioration of the paper records. Dr. Wilcox and colleagues will purchase a Questor-Argus system which is specifically designed for museums collection management. This project is important because it will prevent the deterioration of significant scientific materials, many acquired with federal funds. It will increase the access of the Museum's anthropological collections to researchers who wish to use them. These materials are of importance not only to archaeologists and ethnographers but also to local Native American groups interested in their own traditions.