facts is counted and weighed, then bagged in 4-mil polyethylene self-sealing archivally stable bags and assigned a catalog number. Weights are taken with an Ohaus CS-200 digital scale; for groups of artifacts weighing over 200 grams a triple beam Ohaus Dial- O-Gram scale is used. Measurements in inches or millimeters are taken using Mitytoyo digital cali- pers. Archival paper tags that duplicate the bag and catalog information are placed in each individual bag. Fragile artifacts may be packaged in Ethafoam sheets and placed in a hard polyethylene tub. Artifacts are labeled using a base coat of clear or white Acryloid B72. When this is dry, the site number and provenience number are applied using black India ink and a nib pen. A topcoat of clear Ac- ryloid B72 is applied after the site and provenience numbers have dried. Selected iron artifacts are mechanically cleaned by the process of electrolytic reduction. This is per- formed in a polypropylene vat using stainless steel anodes and a 5 percent solution of sodium carbon- ate as the electrolyte. After this process is complete, the artifact is rinsed in a series of hot and cold dis- tilled water baths to remove any excess electrolyte and then dried in an oven at low temperature for six to eight hours. At least two coats of tannic acid are then brushed on the artifact. A final sealant for the artifact is at least two coats of Renaissance Micro- crystalline Wax Polish. Soil samples taken for flotation are dried and processed in a mechanical flotation system. This system utilizes fine mesh inserted into a modified 18.9-liter drum. Pressurized water flows from the bottom of the drum, forcing separation of light and heavy fraction material. The light fraction material is collected in silkscreen mesh as it passes through an overflow spout. Material from each fraction is dried and placed in separate bags. Both heavy and light fractions are sent to a subcontractor for analysis. All artifact and provenience data are compiled into a database (Microsoft Access 2003). The goal of this relational database is to record as much in- formation as possible about the recovered artifacts for present and future research. This information includes, but is not limited to, function, artifact mea- surements, manufacture methods, maker’s marks, and images. The advantage of using a relational data- base rather than a spreadsheet is the ability to query.
Following review and acceptance of the fi- nal report, all artifacts, project maps, field notes, analysis forms, photographs, and other information generated by this investigation will be prepared for storage at a federally approved curation repository following standards outlined in 36 CFR 79 (Cura- tion of Federally-Owned and Administered Archae- ological Collections: Final Rule). These standards include, but are not limited to, the packaging of all materials in archivally stable bags and boxes. Upon completion of the review process, pertinent project records and materials will be curated at the Erskine Ramsay Archaeological Repository at Moundville Archaeological Park. Historic Artifacts Historic period artifacts were organized initially by provenience and then separated into material categories (glass, ceramic, metal, plastic, etc.). The artifacts were then identified and sorted into 17 functional classes based on a system devised by South (1977). These functional classes include: Agriculture : artifacts related with the growing of food or cash crops (e.g., plows, hoes) Animal-Related : artifacts associated with animals (e.g., bridle parts, shoes, saddles, curry combs) Architecture : artifacts used in the construction of buildings (e.g., nails, bricks, window glass, door hinges, roofing material) Arms : artifacts used for personal protection or hunt- ing (e.g., gun parts, gun flints, ammunition) Clothing : artifacts worn as clothing (e.g., fabric, shoes, buttons, and other clothing fasteners) Fishing : artifacts associated with fishing (e.g., net weights, line weights, fishhooks) Funerary : artifacts found on a coffin or in a grave- shaft (e.g., viewing glass, coffin escutcheons) Furniture : artifacts related to the furnishing of a building (e.g., drawer pulls, hinges, upholstery, casters)
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