Cataloging and Computerizing the Paul S. Martin Collection of Archaeological Materials at The Field Museum

在国家科学基金会的支持下，菲尔德自然历史博物馆将建立一个最新的保罗S。马丁考古收藏，将其输入电子数据库，并通过博物馆的万维网连接提供。马丁的考古生涯始于20世纪30年代，在美国西南部度过了40多年。他的发掘和由此产生的收藏构成了一个独特的国家资源，代表了一个人在两个相对较小的地区的协调努力：科罗拉多西南部和亚利桑那州中东部/新墨西哥州中西部。马丁在这两个地区进行了广泛的调查和挖掘，并将他的实地考察的大量系统样本带回了菲尔德博物馆。它们附有大量的笔记和照片，这使得它们对解决许多现代研究问题很有用。马丁的挖掘和调查方法非常细致，他的工作为探索进化过程、社会关系、文化历史和人类行为等问题提供了坚实的数据基础。不仅是一个陶瓷和石器文物的大型语料库的代表，但hte材料包括数以万计的玉米棒，种子和其他考古植物样本，可用于了解植物遗传学，进化和过去的环境。 目前，大部分收藏品都没有编目，以前编目的物品只不过是一个电子清单。没有包括详细的出处信息，人工制品描述、人工制品材料类型或现场特征的一致性有限。因此，研究人员很难以有效的方式使用这些收藏品。在国家科学基金会的支持下，编目信息将得到更新，其余材料将输入系统。将建立一个电子数据库。所有相关的“硬拷贝”记录都将更新，以与经更正和升级的电子数据库相一致。产地数据和人工制品说明将输入目录书。访问整个收集wiill ths将大大方便和greatlyh改善服务可以提供给大量的考古学家在美国西南部工作。 `

With National Science Foundation support, the Field Museum of Natural History will construct an up to date catalogue of items in the Paul S. Martin Archaeological Collection, enter it into an electronic data base and make this available via the Museum's World Wide Web connection. Martin spent his archaeological career, which began in the 1930s and spanned more than 40 years, in the U.S.Southwest. His excavations and resultant collections constitute a unique national resource representing the coordinated efforts of a single individual in two relatively small areas: southwest Colorade and East Central Arizona/West Central New Mexico. Martin surveyed and excavated extensively in both areas and brought back to the Field Museum large systematic samples of his fieldwork. They are accompanied by extensive notes and photographs which make them useful for addressing many modern research questions. Martin was meticulous in his methods of excavation and survey and his work provides a solid data base for exploring issues of evolutionary precess, social relations, culture history and human behavior. Not only is a large corpus of ceramics and lithic artifacts represented, but hte materials include tens of thousands of corn cobs, seeds and other archaeobotanical samples which can be used to understand plant genetics, evolution and past environments. Currently, much of the collection is uncatalogued and the previously catalogued items consist of litte more than an electronic list. No detailed provenience information is included and there is limited consistency to the artifact descriptions, artifact material types or site characteristics. Therefore it is extremely difficult for researchers to use the collection in an effective manner. With NSF support, the catalogued information will be upgraded and the remaining materials will be entered into the system. An electronic database will be constructed. All pertinent `hard copy` records will be updated to agree with the corrected and upgraded electronic databases. Provenience data and artifact descriptions will be entered into the catalogue books. Access to the entire collection wiill ths be greatly facilitated and greatlyh improved service can be provided to the large number of archaeologists working in the Southwest USA. `