Preservation Assessment and Purchase of Environmental Monitoring Equipment to Preserve Archaeological Collections
FAIN: PG-51569-12
Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois (Champaign, IL 61801-3620)
Laura Kozuch (Project Director: May 2011 to December 2013)
A conservation assessment of the Illinois State Archaeological Survey's non-federal collections that include 54,450 excavation records, 95,125 photographs, 22,819 maps, and 1 million artifacts excavated since 1920 that document the prehistory of the state. Among these are materials from Cahokia, a mound site. Environmental monitors recommended by a consultant would also be purchased. This evaluation would help guide the facility's staff on building upgrades, collection management, and climate monitoring and control.
This project will help the Illinois State Archaeological Survey (ISAS) at the University of Illinois to have a preservation assessment performed of our facilities that house archaeological collections and associated documents. The last assessment was conducted in 1998 by Catherine Sease. Since that time, all collections and facilities have moved to different buildings on and off campus. To help monitor storage conditions, we will purchase additional electronic PEM2 climate monitors from the Image Permanence Institute to replace our older hygrothermographs. ISAS curates about 12,000 boxes (cubic feet) of archaeological materials in permanent facilities, including 54,450 lots of artifacts from Cahokia, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Although storage furniture and climate conditions have greatly improved due to many upgrades, we would like to utilize the expertise of a trained conservator to help guide us in our next steps.
Associated Products
An Assessment of Archaeological Collection Needs at the University of Illinois (Web Resource)Title: An Assessment of Archaeological Collection Needs at the University of Illinois
Author: Laura Kozuch
Author: John Lee Moore
Abstract: Dr. Laura Kozuch received a $6,000 National Endowment for the Humanities grant in 2012 for an assessment of Illinois State Archaeological Survey (ISAS) collection needs. The grant funded four climate monitors that help staff assess temperature and humidity in storage areas. It also funded Bronwyn Eves to tour ISAS facilities. Dr. Kozuch and conservator Eves formed recommendations for ISAS collections. A dedicated facility needs to be created to care for the amazing ISAS collections.
ISAS collection highlights, all in Illinois and either on the National Register of Historic Places or are eligible:
The Cahokia site, a UNESCO World Heritage site (UNESCO). Dr. Bonnie Styles, Director of the Illinois State Museum, calls Cahokia “one of the most important archaeological sites in North America and the world.” The database is online.
The Emerald site.
The East St. Louis site. ISAS excavated this Cahokia-related site (site link). Important artifacts from this site include stone figurines (Figure 1).
The Lunsford-Pulcher site.
The Mitchell site.
The Hoxie Farm site, a large prehistoric site in Chicago. Stone pipes were found with etched designs (Figure 2).
The Collins Archaeological District.
French Colonial sites. These sites to the early 1700s and 1800s.
Year: 2015
Primary URL:
http://iprh.illinois.eduPrimary URL Description: To promote interdisciplinary study in the humanities, arts, and social sciences at the University of Illinois. The online exhibit will celebrate the impact and diversity of NEH-funded research at the University of Illinois.