As Roberta Charpentier's inquiry was generated in search of
information for our office, I feel somewhat obligated to respond to
Bill Adams concerns on the use of archaeological collections that
lack specific provenience data and to a better understanding of the
particular collection we are dealing with.
 
The Norris L. Bull Collection was compiled primarily in the 1930s
and  40s and consists of over 10,000 Native American artifacts from
CT.  Many of the artifacts were recovered from plowed fields in the
19th and early 20th centuries.  Mr. Bull was obsessed with the idea
of developing the largest collection of CT Indian artifacts.  His
motives were personal, however, there was a sense of preserving these
cultural materials for future generations.  He did keep an inventory,
but, data sometimes consists only of the county the objects were
located.  In some cases, we know the town and the particular farm in
the town that objects were recovered from.  So there is some very
limited  locational information.
 
The materials are some of the most unique Native American specimens
we have in the state.   For example, we have the largest collection
of steatite bowls (over 60 complete specimens) and native ceramic and
stone pipes.  As one archaeologist said to me, "We don't see these
kinds of artifacts in our sites anymore."   The collection testifies
to the wide range of material cultural diversity of the Indians of CT
and allows for an appreciation of native technology we don't get from
the hundreds of  "flakes and points" that have scientific
documentation . My point is that in these older collections that have
been given to universities and museums through the years there is
important  information and understanding of past lifeways that can
still be generated.  Even if it is simply  a public educational
value for exhibits and classroom demonstrations, these collections
have been helpful in creating awareness in the state for
preservational efforts and the importance of contextual data
associated with such  artifacts.    The general public (who supports
our abilities to do scientific archaeology) becomes fascinated with
our work when they see that we are preserving more than (to them)
just "arrowheads".
 
Also, scientific analysis is possible (though clearly limited)  due
to the numbers of artifacts involved. Comparative analyses of
artifact types, manufacturing processes, raw material utilization,
and maybe, even regional perspectives,  etc. are possible.  We often
challenge UConn students to develop creative research designs that
use such collections even with their intrinsic limitations.  To
designate these materials as a "bunch of junk" and delegate them to
the trash heap reflects a lack of creative thinking.  Let's not throw
up our hands in frustration.  Let's be challenged by opportunity to
use materials that were collected in another time with another
preservation ethic.  Someday, when that finite number of
archaeological sites are finally destroyed and exhausted (and that
day may come sooner than we all  like to think),  all we will have
left to analyze are academic and CRM reposited materials and large,
unscientifically gathered artifact collections.  What do we do with
the latter?
 
We are not advocating the collecting of artifacts.  We have seen the
vandalism and destruction of many sites in this state.  There are
those who collect for profit and those who are naive enough to think
they are preserving "artifacts".  Our approach is to prosecute when
necessary and educate when necessary.  We have  developed
communication networks with individuals who do collect and have
been able to "convert" many to a  scientific method. They  are
now members of archeological societies  providing their time and
energy in assisting our preservational efforts.  Some will never be
"converted"; some are simply criminal.
 
Roberta's request for information on publishing a booklet  on
the Bull Collection is an effort to disseminate info on the materials
of the collection, to amke it  available to researchers and for
exhibits, and to explore the story behind the collectors - the good,
the bad, and the ugly.
 
Nick Bellantoni, Connecticut State Archaeologist
Office of State Archaeology, U-23
University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269