Thank you for your reply and ideas.  It is interesting how
          the responses have varied.  Nearly everyone says establish
          the categories, and data needs first, and that this is the
          hardest part.  Next they say find a good relational
          database.  One that works with a spread sheet system and a
          word processor.  Access has gotten high marks for being the
          system of choice.  Although foxpro, quattro pro, and a
          variety of others have been mentioned.  They say that the
          easiest part is getting the software to work,  the hardest
          part is figuring out what questions to address.
 
         It would help me if you could send me a listing of fields
          that you use for logging in the data.  this would give me an
          idea of the characteristics that you think important for
          identifying artifacts.  Thanks, [log in to unmask]
 
          If you send it via snail mail, the address is:
          4804 old middletown road
          jefferson, md 21755
 
          thanks again. jim