Curation is rarely the first topic raised in an archaeological seminar or addressed in a fieldwork design. And, the authors point out, it is too rarely discussed at all. But the current crisis in repository space has increased awareness that the long-term conservation and preservation of the material remains and field notes of an archaeological project are as important as the finds themselves. Sullivan and Childs, two experienced archaeologists and museum professionals, provide an introductory guide to curation for archaeologists. Crucial to this process is the recognition of curation issues before the first day of fieldwork and continuous involvement of curators in the process throughout the archaeological project. The authors provide guidance on how to manage a collection, what to do with field notes and other project documents, how to find a repository for the collection, and how to adjust field practices so that the process runs smoothly. This brief, practical guide will be invaluable to all field archaeologists and their students, and to museum professionals who curate archaeological collections.

This volume documents the lives and work of pioneering women archaeologists in the southeastern United States from the 1920s through the 1960s. A landmark portrayal of pioneering women in science, reissued on its 25th anniversary Praise for the first edition: "Highly recommended for any archaeologist interested in the history of the discipline."--Choice "An important addition to the history of southeastern archaeology, bringing to light the often undervalued or forgotten contributions of the many women who helped to make archaeology what it is today."--Bulletin of the History of Archaeology "This is a needed history, providing details both mundane and critical, personal and professional, feminist and archaeological."--Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences "Demonstrat[es] that each woman, regardless of how, when, or why she came to Southeastern archaeology, has made significant contributions to the field, clearing the path for women today to pursue successful careers in archaeology."--North American Archaeologist "The regional focus lends an intimate and immediate quality to this series of biographical-historical narratives. . . . [It is] heartening to know that some among us have thought to capture these women's stories for others to tell in the future and to provide a basis for better understanding how our roles and histories influence our work as archaeologists."--Journal of Anthropological Research "These fascinating brief portraits, variously based on documents, interviews, or autobiographical statements, reveal much of the changing circumstances in the context of which women's work must be understood."--National Women's Studies Association Journal "A readable book that provides a lot of interesting material on the history of Southeastern archaeology."--Journal of Alabama Archaeology "A delight to read, often humorous, sometimes sobering. It has much to offer readers, ranging from the history of archaeology and the role of the WPA in southeastern archaeology, to an intimate view of careers of influential women in science, to discussions of the study of gender in history and archaeology. It is a volume to be read and shared."--Arkansas Historical Quarterly "An easily read, thought-provoking book."--St. Augustine Archaeological Association Quarterly Book Review Updated with a new preface on the 25th anniversary of its first publication, this volume documents the lives and work of pioneering women archaeologists in the southeastern United States from the 1920s through the 1960s. Some of these women were working at the time of the book's first publication in 1999, and they either wrote their own stories or were interviewed. Others were no longer living; their biographies are gleaned from archival research. Rich with humor, tragedy, and important information for the history of archaeology in the South and beyond, as well as anthropology in general, this book includes the story of African American women excavators on WPA crews during the Great Depression; tales of innovative lab work, adventurous fieldwork, and public archaeology; and provocative discussions of women in archaeology and of gender in the archaeological record.

The residents of Mississippian towns principally located in the southeastern and midwestern United States from 900 to1500 A.D. made many beautiful objects, which included elaborate and well-crafted copper and shell ornaments, pottery vessels, and stonework. Some of these objects were socially valued goods and often were placed in ritual context, such as graves. The funerary context of these artefacts has sparked considerable study and debate among archaeologists, raising questions about the place in society of the individuals interred with such items, as well as the nature of the societies in which these people lived. By focusing on how mortuary practices serve as symbols of beliefs and values for the living, the contributors to Mississippian Mortuary Practices explore how burial of the dead reflects and reinforces the cosmology of specific cultures, the status of living participants in the burial ceremony, on-going kin relationships, and other aspects of social organisation.

This collection of essays is designed to revolutionize the way archeologists approach the study of enclosures, clearly illustrating the difficulties in interpreting these sites, and showing that their builders had widely diverse purposes. (Archaeology/Anthropology)