Research and Access to Collections

Research and Access

Access

Collections at the Laboratory of Archaeology are available for research, access, or use to qualified researchers for scientific and educational research within normal business hours (Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm). Research, access, and use of NAGPRA material (including documents and media) controlled by UGA is prohibited and will be granted only after consultation and written approval from an official representative of the affiliated Tribe(s). Research and access for NAGPRA material by federal and state agencies is generally prohibited.

Per Georgia law, the Laboratory prevents access to site location and information for the general public. Federal law (32CFR229) also outlines the protection of information about archaeological resources. Therefore, the Laboratory limits access to the collections to Laboratory staff and qualified researchers. Qualified researchers consist of professional archaeologists with at least a Master’s Degree in Archaeology, Historic Preservation, Museum Studies, related field, official representative of a Federally recognized tribe or nation, or currently hold a Registered Professional Archaeologist (RPA) or Registered Archaeologist (RA) certification. Or students working in the field under supervision of a professional archaeologist.  

Collections at the Laboratory, including, but not limited to, paper and digital documents, digital databases, field excavation records, maps, artifact assemblages, and media, such as 3D scanning and printing files, videos, photographs, negatives, slides, etc., are available for scientific and educational research if below requirements are meant:

  • The Laboratory requires that, when applicable, consultation with appropriate descendant communities occur prior to research, access, or use, including, but not limited to, loans, transfers, destructive analysis, and image permission use of UGA-controlled collections and material. The Laboratory will assist qualified researchers in determining which descendant community to contact. 
    • Research, access, and/or use of NAGPRA material and collections controlled by UGA are prohibited. It will be granted only with written approval from the official NAGPRA representatives of the affiliated Tribe(s) and the expressed written consent of the collection's controlling institution.

 

  • Requests for research, access, and/or use, including, but not limited to, loans, transfers, destructive analysis, and image permission use of all material, including collections, not under control by the Laboratory must be cleared with the federal or state agency that does have control over the collection. It is important to remember such collections may be subject to consultation with appropriate descendant communities before approval of research by controlling federal or state agencies.   
    • Research, access, and/or use of NAGPRA material and collections not controlled by UGA are generally prohibited and will be granted only with the expressed written consent of the collection's controlling institution and with consultation from descendant communities

Consultation

The Laboratory requires consultation prior to research, access, or use for UGA-controlled collections along with other forms depending on the type of research before access is granted (e.g., initial research request, collection access and use agreement, loans, transfers, destructive analysis, and image permission, etc.).The federal or state agencies that curate at the Laboratory also require consultation as well as other permits or documentation that need to be completed before research is conducted for the collections that they control.

The Laboratory and controlling institution of a collection also require copies of data, reports, publications, presentations, imagery, etc., produced as a result of this research and copies also sent to descendent communities that were engaged during consultation. We recommend that researchers engage in consultation early on in projects to give communities the time they need to consider the proposed research (approximately 30 days).

 

 

Basic steps for research and access to the collections curated at the Laboratory include the following:

 

  1. Complete the Initial Research Request Form and email completed form to the Operations Director (arobthom@uga.edu). This form will require the below information:
    • Basic description of research
    • What sites or collections are you interested in?
    • What types of analysis do you plan on conducting?
    • Will your research result in any changes to the collection?
    • What data, reports, publications, presentations, imagery, exhibits, etc. will be generated from this research?
    • Have you contacted any descendant community about this research?
    • If you are a student, who is your advisor for the research?
  2. The Operations Director (arobthom@uga.edu) will assess the form and determine who is the controlling agency for sites/collections that are requested for research
  3. Complete the Consultation Form and email to Operations Director. Operations Director will then email the affiliated descendant communities and agency that controls the collection with researcher cced to make the initial introduction.
  4. Consultation about the research request can occur between researcher and tribes can occur separately or with Operations Director cced.
  5. Email the Operations Director (arobthom@uga.edu) the completed Consultation Form with approvals, comments, and suggestions from descendant communities.
  6. Arrange with research visit with the Laboratory. Please include the following in this request
    • Date (s) and Time (s)
    • Site or collection information
    • Space requests- including if special analytical equipment is being brought in
  7. Complete Collection Access and Use Agreement prior to visit.
  8. Conduct research and maintain all required communication. Complete any other forms required (e.g. Destructive Analysis)
  9. Include proper citations for the Laboratory, and descendant community in all resulting publications, presentations, etc.
  10. Send the Laboratory, and descendant community a copy of data, imagery, reports, publications, etc. generated from the research of the collection.

Please email the Operations Director, Amanda Roberts Thompson (arobthom@uga.edu) for any questions.