Archeologists play a dual role in the discipline of anthropology. They are both interpreters and preservers of artifacts. The responsibility an archeologist has in regards to preservation in the field is not only crucial, but also very challenging. When meticulously digging in one-meter square holes with three-inch trowels down two centimeters at a time, one barely has enough time to finish the necessary tasks at hand, let alone analyze an artifact. The unfamiliarity of the future of artifacts once they left the field sparked my interest in an internship at an archeology lab in Austin, Texas. I was confident this would increase my knowledge of artifact conservation and introduce me to new research methods, which would allow me to secure the artifact and its linked information for generations to come.
When I applied for the internship at the Historic Sites Division (HSD), I was unsure what my responsibilities would entail. The first week, I was briefed by the departing interns on the current projects that I would continue working on during my stint. A large portion of my internship would be dedicated to building a digital database with information about the newly acquired historic properties.
As I became more familiar with the layout of the lab and the people, I found myself adapting to the documentation procedures. Most days were spent creating a digital database. This was not merely a spreadsheet with detailed information about artifacts and their corresponding historic sites, but also included high-resolution digital photographs. These photographs accomplish two essential goals: (1) create a high quality animate representation of the artifact, and (2) decrease the need for physical handling which prolongs the objects lifespan. After editing the photograph, in order to depict the object as naturally as possible, the pictures are inserted into the database artifact descriptor line. The glass bottles I photographed and documented were of various types and sizes that belonged to the Fort McKavett historic Site.
Because the HSD knows which artifacts are connected with particular site, the research I focused on was the derivation of a particular object. Often, the bottles had no identification markers, which naturally results in no identification, but can frequently lead to an approximate manufactures date. Towards the end of the internship when the Fort McKavett database was completed I began researching new artifacts that came from the San Felipe de Austin historic site. Both artifacts I was asked to investigate had distinguishable characteristics that aided me in my exploration.
Having never worked in an archeology lab before, I was surprised by how rigorous the artifact collections and storage requirements are. I was equally surprised that no matter how large or small or type of material the lab had in its possession, the proper curatorial supplies were readily available and the curator of archeology knew how to correctly handle the artifact in every regard.