Reverential Area Access Policy
The Reverential Area at the UGA Laboratory of Archaeology is a separate and secure space located in the farthest back room behind a locked wire fence and secured double doors. The Reverential Area houses NAGPRA ancestral remains, associated funerary objects, probable unassociated funerary objects, as well as ancestral remains and associated objects that fall outside of NAGPRA. Only authorized persons are allowed in this area. In general, the Laboratory prohibits research, access, or use of NAGPRA material. Any research, access, or use beyond general collections care or NAGPRA will be approved through official representatives of affiliated federally recognized Tribe(s) and/or the state or federal institution who has collections in the Reverential Area.
Denied Access
In general, access to the Reverential Area is restricted to the below unless they have approved access by affiliated Tribe(s) and/or the state or federal institution who has collections in the Reverential Area.
- General members of the public
- Classes or public tours
- Most student employees at the Laboratory will have not access to the space unless for a specific assigned task (outlined below)
Granted Access
- Federally Recognized Tribes are always granted access to the Reverential Area. All offerings need to be arranged prior to access. See the NAGPRA Policy for details.
- Essential Laboratory personnel (Director, Operations Director, Laboratory Manager, and qualified Technicians) can access the space for the below list
- General collections care and management
- Preventative conservation measures (e.g. making mounts, stabilization efforts, etc.)
- Pest control (setting pest traps, inspection, etc.)
- NAGPRA related activities (e.g., creating inventories, summaries, bundling, etc.)
- Approved research on any non-NAGPRA collections
- Rehousing according to traditional care processes
- Periodic inventory checks
- Specific requests by affiliated Tribe(s) and/or a controlling institution
- Facilities Management (FMD) when required for inspection or to attend to issues not able to be resolved by Laboratory personnel. They must be informed of the sensitivity of the area and monitored by Laboratory personnel the entire time they are in the Reverential Area.
- Individuals pre-approved by the affiliated Tribe(s) and/or the state or federal institution who has collections in the Reverential Area; advanced notice is required.
Click here for a PDF of the Laboratory's Reverential Area Access Policy.