Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Thesis Format

Monograph

Degree

Master of Arts

Program

Anthropology

Supervisor

Timmins, Peter

Abstract

This study aims to investigate why and how there is a “curation crisis” in Ontario archaeology by examining the delegation of responsibility for archaeological collections. This research was conducted by reviewing related scholarly literature, investigating the current legislation governing Ontario archaeology, and interviewing 20 stakeholders involved in archaeological collections management, including Cultural Resource Management (CRM) archaeologists, descendant community representatives, past Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism, and Culture Industries employees, academic and avocational archaeologists, and museum or repository curators. Nearly all participants think CRM archaeologists should not be responsible for the long-term curation of archaeological collections, yet many of Ontario’s archaeological collections are in the private storage spaces of CRM consultants. The study concludes that it would be most beneficial if the responsibility for long-term care of archaeological collections was transferred to well-equipped repositories, either run by, or in collaboration with, Indigenous communities and overseen by the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries.

Summary for Lay Audience

Many archaeological sites exist across Ontario that are related to the European colonial period and, more often, Indigenous history before and during the colonial period. Before construction projects can begin in Ontario, it is often required that an archaeological assessment is conducted before development is started. These assessments may lead to extensive archaeological surveys and excavations to salvage archaeological sites, artifacts, and information before they are destroyed by development. The assessments are completed by archaeologists who are licensed and regulated by the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries. The archaeologists are required to provide safekeeping for the artifacts they collect under their licenses, or they may transfer them to an approved artifact repository the approval of the Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries. With the boom in development in Ontario beginning in the 1980s and 1990s, archaeological collections began to be amassed at much faster rates than ever before. Due to the rapid pace of development, budget constraints, and little time and money dedicated to artifact curation, licensed archaeologists have sometimes stored collections in less-than-ideal conditions in their basements, garages, and storage lockers. In these storage conditions, collections are difficult to track and access for further study and are at risk of deteriorating. In some worst-case scenarios, collections have become lost or thrown away. This has led some stakeholders to conclude that Ontario is now in an archaeological “curation crisis” because collections are being acquired faster than they can be properly curated.

This study aims to investigate this “curation crisis” by determining the delegation of responsibility for archaeological collections in the province. This research was conducted by reviewing related scholarly literature, investigating the current legislation regarding Ontario archaeology, and interviewing 20 stakeholders involved in archaeological collections. The stakeholders include licensed archaeologists, descendant community representatives, past Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism, and Culture Industries employees, academic and avocational archaeologists, and curators. Nearly all participants think licensed archaeologists should be relieved of the long-term curation of archaeological collections, yet most collections currently remain in licensed archaeologists’ private storage. The study concludes that it would be more beneficial if the responsibility for curating archaeological collections was delegated to well-equipped repositories, either run by or in collaboration with Indigenous communities, with additional regulation by the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries.

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