ANTH 484- INTERNSHIP
CURATION OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL COLLECTIONS

Instructor: Dr. Lapham
E-mail: hlapham@siu.edu

Course Description:
This internship is intended to give students in anthropology or the museum studies program an introduction to the curation and management of archaeological collections. Students will learn various aspects of collections management through hands-on work at the Center for Archaeological Investigations’ (CAI) curation facility. The CAI currently curates collections from the American Midwest, Southwest, and Micronesia. Students will be exposed to a variety of issues that affect curation nation-wide, including conservation and preservation, pest management, storage, collection accessibility, accountability, curation policies, federal regulations, and ethical concerns. Internship projects may range from collections documentation and research to object digitalization and other special curation projects.

Note: This course will be held in the Center for Archaeological Investigation’s Curation Facility located in the Stotlar Building, 200 W. Industrial Park Road (about 2.5 miles north of Faner Hall on Route 51).

Course Requirements:
Because this course is designed as an internship, to do well you in this class will must attend class. You are expected to keep current with the reading assignments and to participate in discussions of the readings and lecture materials. You must also always handle collections with care and respect.

Grading System:
Grades are based on attendance and participation (20%), five quizzes (50%), and two research papers (30%).

Attendance and Participation: It is expected that you will attend class regularly, participate actively in class discussions and exercises, and keep current on all reading assignments. This course is designed to be a hands-on learning experience so attending class is critical to doing well. You are expected to arrive on time and stay the allotted time, just as one would attending a regular lecture course.

Quizzes: There will be five quizzes given throughout the course. The quizzes will be based on class lectures, discussions, and readings. Each quiz will be worth 10% of the final grade. Quizzes will be given on the last day of class for that week. Readings assigned for that week may be included in the quiz. No make-up quizzes will be given.

Research Papers: You will be expected to produce two eight-page research papers on two curation-related topics of your choice. The papers should demonstrate an understanding of curation issues, how these issues relate to your class project, and should discuss both problems and solutions. Four weeks prior to the paper deadline you will need to hand in a statement defining your chosen topic. One week before the paper is due you will hand in an outline of your paper along with an annotated bibliography that contains at least five sources. In an annotated bibliography, each citation is followed by a descriptive and evaluative paragraph(s) that inform the reader of the content, relevance, accuracy, and quality of the source cited. Two points will be deducted for each day your paper is late.

*This syllabus is subject to change. When changes are necessary they will be announced in class.

**As a member of the SIUC community you are expected to adhere to the standards of academic integrity outlined in the Student Conduct Code.

Required Readings:
The articles that you will be required to read have been placed in the Center for Archaeological Investigations office in Faner Hall (except those that can be accessed online). The main office is open M-F, 8am-12pm and 1pm-4:30pm. If you borrow the readings to photocopy, please return them promptly. The following textbook, which can be purchased in the bookstore, is also required for this course:

• Curating Archaeological Collections, by Lynne P. Sullivan and S. Terry Childs, Altamira Press, Walnut Creek, 2003.