Preservation

Archaeology has played an important part in preserving America's history and uncovering unique information about people, places, and events. In the late nineteenth century, European Americans began to work to restore old Native American structures and Civil War battlefields. Philanthropists, scientists, and soldiers gathered at historic sites to commemorate previous battles and rebuild national unity. Mary Hemenway supported the Hemenway Southwestern Archaeological Expedition to Casa Grande, Arizona, which established America's first archeological reservation in 1892. Mesa Verde National Park was established in 1906 because to worries about vandalism and pothunting. The Antiquities Act of 1906 and the Organic Act of 1916 gave the President the authority to designate historic and scientific sites as national monuments, which are managed by the National Park Service.

Conservators take care of cultural items and historical collections in both public and private organizations. They are proficient in a variety of mediums, including old items, paintings, paper, and architecture. They help archaeologists plan artifact recoveries, purchase packing and storage supplies, retrieve delicate artifacts, and analyze artifact materials. They also help with long-term preservation for research and interpretation. Conservators collaborate with archaeologists and other museum experts to utilize specific procedures to conserve sensitive items during excavation, storage, and transportation. The purpose of archeological conservation is to conserve and clarify objects, which can hold valuable information about the materials and techniques employed, how they were used, why they were discarded or buried, and why they deteriorated.