Preservation of Archaeological Collections

FAIN: PG-51240-11

Lost City Museum (Overton, NV 89040)
Dena Sedar (Project Director: May 2010 to December 2012)

Hiring a conservator to evaluate the storage and housing needs of the museum's archaeological and ethnographic collections comprising 20,000 artifacts from Pueblo Grande de Nevada, an Anasazi complex (known as the Lost City) occupied from 300 BCE to CE 1150. The artifacts include ceramics, baskets, beaded objects, and jewelry. The site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The goal of the proposed project is to properly house the Lost City Museum’s archaeological artifacts and ethnographical objects to maximize the preservation of the objects and to properly organize the collection, which will allow for better access for the public and visiting researchers. The Preservation Assistance Grant would enable the Lost City Museum to contract with a conservator to focus on the proper storage of the artifacts within the archaeological and ethnographic collections. Remaining grant funds would be used to purchase archival quality storage materials. The purchase of these materials would allow the Lost City Museum staff members to transfer materials that are currently housed in older, non-archival quality storage materials.