Universities Dumping Artifacts; Pilot Program Entails Unloading Arrowhead Warehouses
Posted on 01. Apr, 2009 by Shannon Graham in Texas, Uncategorized
In an unprecedented move announced Wednesday, it appears the Texas Archeological Research Lab (TARL) will be liquidating it’s collection of more than 80 years of Texas artifacts. The move comes on the heals of state budget cuts that make it difficult for the state funded program to continue warehousing stockpiles of Indian artifacts.
TARL spokes person Pete Arnales says “Times are tough. Archeological agencies are no different from private enterprises during this economic crisis. With all of the recent cut-backs, we’re feeling the crunch as well.” Arnales went on to say that the Indian artifacts that have been collected over the past 80 years will be liquidated and sold to the public to raise funding for upcoming field schools and grants.
Chief Curator for TARL, Cass Troville had this to say ‘warehousing artifacts is an expensive venture and is really not the core of what we should be doing’. Troville explained that the excavation, documentation and study of artifacts comes first and foremost. Keeping artifacts locked up in a dark warehouse costs taxpayers millions of dollars and really doesn’t benefit the public.”
“We’ve had to really step back and examine what we do.” Troville explained. “We’re having to get laser focused on where our funds are best spent. Warehousing is not part of the mix.”
Fund raising efforts will commence in early summer with the well documented Indian artifacts being sold to the public. “We’re not exactly sure how to proceed as this is a first for us.” said Martin Dale. Sources close to the center hint at a public auction. “This is kind of exciting” Dale commented. “It’s like, we get to reallocate funds from storing rocks and apply that money to the stuff we do best, excavation. I’m looking forward to more time in the field.”
Other programs around the U.S. are likely to follow suit given public funding and state budget cuts.
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2 Responses to “Universities Dumping Artifacts; Pilot Program Entails Unloading Arrowhead Warehouses”
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Steven Moore
16. Nov, 2010
Isn’t this the same thing what they call a looter?Out to the next big dig only to sell out artifacts out the back?Well I guess its better than housed in a dark warehouse where no one see them.
Martin Rogers
01. Mar, 2011
I am floored with the hypocrisy. They are allowed to collect then sell these artifacts when they need to raise money. The elitist attitude is mind boggling but unfortunately they will never change due to the many years of getting “away” with it.
I agree with Mr. Moore. At least the artifacts are out of that dark warehouse. Maybe they (artifacts) will finally get the respect they deserve.