Archaeology - Office of Cultural & Historical Programs

Conservation and Collections

Tallahassee projectile point

The Conservation and Collections section of the Bureau of Archaeological Research is entrusted with the treatment, preservation, management and maintenance of the material remains of Florida's diverse archaeological heritage. There are currently over 200,000 artifacts managed by Conservation and Collections, ranging from rare stone and bone tools 11,000 years or older, to pre-Columbian ceramic, shell, stone, and bone artifacts, Spanish-era ceramics, Spanish and British shipwreck items including personal items as well as cannons and coins, Seminole and Civil War era military and civilian artifacts, and items from later historic eras with representation of rural (e.g., turpentine camps) and urban occupations (e.g., common household items), historic forts, and early tourism.

Florida Statutes Chapter 267.061 (new window) states that the Division of Historical Resources is charged with, among other responsibilities, the administration of "state-owned or state controlled historic resources in a spirit of stewardship and trusteeship". Artifacts recovered during state-sponsored research, or projects operating under a 1A-32 research permit are the property of the state, as outlined by Florida Statutes Chapter 267.061 (1b) (new window).

It is further declared to be the public policy of the state that all treasure trove, artifacts, and such objects having intrinsic or historical and archaeological value which have been abandoned on state-owned lands or state-owned sovereignty submerged lands shall belong to the state with the title thereto vested in the Division of Historical Resources of the Department of State for the purposes of administration and protection.

Following guidelines in the Florida Administrative Code (1A-40), Conservation and Collections has also accepted private donations.

The collections facility accessions and maintains all of the artifacts for the State of Florida and makes these materials available to museum exhibits and researchers. Collections also curates original field notes, maps, and other documents related to archaeological projects that recovered artifacts.

Scale-drawing of an astrolabe

Archaeological recovery is different from historical museum collections in that a large percentage consists of small sherds, mundane items such as bone or shell food refuse, waste byproducts of stone tool manufacture, etc. These items are used in research, the results of which help planners and land managers understand archaeological sites in their area, and any existing reports are usually available through the Florida Master Site File.

James Levy uses an air scribe as part of the conservation process for a musket barrel

Conservation and Collections maintains a very active loan program (see below for more information). Over 16,000 items are on loan for either research or exhibit. Artifacts from BAR collections are on exhibit at over 80 locations throughout Florida, and many items held by the Conservation and Collections section are on display at the Museum of Florida History, especially their Pre-Columbian and Spanish Shipwreck exhibits.

BAR staff discuss conservation of a prehistoric wooden canoe

Conservation and Collection's conservation laboratory specializes in treating metal and wooden artifacts. Although some artifacts recovered from terrestrial or submerged environments are in relatively good condition, many require conservation treatment. Artifacts that have been buried in soil or submerged in a marine environment reach a point of stasis that is disrupted when they are again exposed to the atmosphere, causing them to deteriorate. Complete conservation of an artifact can require several hours to several years depending on the artifacts size and composition. Main techniques include electrolysis for stabilizing iron artifacts, PEG for wooden artifacts (or sometimes just oils if they are already dry), and acrylic emulsion for bone artifacts. James Levy, historic conservator for the lab, is available for advice or questions (850/245-6444 or jlevy@dos.state.fl.us. One cardinal rule before calling- keep the artifact as it was found (if found wet, keep it wet). Mr. Levy is also an expert in munitions (especially cannons, muskets, rifles) and many other historic artifacts, and can often assist with identifications (but NOT assessments of value).

An unconserved wooden pulley block

Roy Lett assists Conservation and Collections staff with photography and other technical graphic productions or documentation. Mr. Lett (850/245-6444 or rlett@dos.state.fl.us) is available for technical advice or assistance with images of artifacts in BAR collections.

David Dickel, Conservation and Collections supervisor, is available for questions (but not always answers!) for about nearly anything in BAR collections, and also for some non-technical questions about the conservation lab (James Levy is the technical contact for conservation). Dickel is available at 850/245-6444 or ddickel@dos.state.fl.us.

All images courtesy BAR Collections.