The Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory announces the
launch of *Maryland
Unearthed*; *A Guide to Archaeological Collections at the Maryland
Archaeological Conservation Laboratory* (
http://jefpat.org/mdunearth/Index.aspx). The searchable database makes it
possible to identify and determine the research and educational potential
of components from 268 sites curated at the lab, as well as isolate
specific datable artifact assemblages associated with each component.  The
database provides users with multiple categories of data for assemblages
with research potential:  temporal range, cultural affiliation, assemblage
size, curation status, current levels of analysis for multiple subsets of
data (faunal, paleobotanical, ceramic and glass vessels), etc. Whether you
are a student writing a class paper, a museum curator developing an
exhibit, or a researcher doing advanced analysis, this online resource will
allow you to quickly determine if the collections at the Lab could help you.



The lab, located at Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum, is the repository
for Maryland’s archaeological past, currently preserving over 8 million
artifacts representing 13,000 years of human history in the state.   Over
the last decade, the Maryland Archaeological Conservation Laboratory has
committed to providing a variety of digital tools designed to make
archaeological data easily available to researchers and the public.  The
lab currently has five different web sources available, ranging from
artifact identification tools to artifact and paleobotanical databases.



The project also builds on the MAC Lab’s online guide, Archaeological
Collections in Maryland (www.jefpat.org/NEHWeb), which provides detailed
descriptions of 30 sites and includes a database of downloadable
photographs and digitized field records associated with each site.  It is
also linked with the Maryland Historical Trust Synthesis Project.  This
collections tool was created using funding from a Maryland State Highways
Administration Transportation Enhancement Grant.



Patricia Samford
Director, Maryland Archaeological Conservation Lab
Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum
10515 Mackall Road, St. Leonard, Maryland 20685
410-586-8551  [log in to unmask]

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