Archaeology Laboratory Protocols

All individuals working in the Archaeology Laboratories are required to read and be aware of these protocols. These are basic guidelines to be followed by everyone. They aim to protect the integrity of archaeological collections, provide security for laboratory equipment and supplies, and help maintain a pleasant and orderly work environment. Reference copies of this document are available on the door of Condon 268 for convenience.

1) Sign In and Out.

Everyone working in the lab is required to sign the main work log (located near the door) on arriving and before leaving for the day. Be brief, but included the following information: your name, project name, and the work you did, the number of hours worked, and any equipment used. You will have to keep track of your hours on a separate sheet of paper for your PLE supervisor.

2) Provenience is Everything - Protect It.

When working on any collection is is imperative that you maintain the provenience information of all materials. You should NEVER work on materials from different proveniences at the same time, and should only open one bag at a time. Always keep the provenience information together with the materials you are working on no matter what. Keep sufficient space between yourself and other workers to insure physical separation of materials from different proveniences.

3) Use the Appropriate Supplies.

Particular supplies (calipers, forceps, trays, paper and plastic bags, brushes, glassware, miscellaneous utensils) and work areas (work tables and rooms) are not for everyone's use. Some supplies (tape, staples, scissors, lamps) are for general use, but most of the lab equipment is purchased by project directors with grant money and intended for use only by people working on their projects. Tables and work spaces are allotted to different projects at different times. Be aware of which areas and supplies you are supposed to use for the project you are working on.

4) Obtain Permission to Use Special Equipment.

Use of computers, microscopes, camera equipment, or darkroom facilities must be authorized by your project director or lab manager. By no means should PLE students use computers for email, wordprocessing or other tasks not related to their PLE project. Operating guides for microscopes and other equipment are kept in the file cabinet near the computers. If you use these guidelines, replace them in the file cabinet when you are done. Graduate students should sign up in advance to reserve computers, microscopes or the electronic balance for themselves or their PLE students working on their projects. We may institute an hourly limit if individuals monopolize the equipment. On the other hand, if we have insufficient equipment for projects, graduate supervisors should bring this to the attention of faculty in an attempt to remedy the problem.

5) Treat All Equipment with Care.

• Equipment is not to be removed from Rooms 268 or 264 without project director's permission. If equipment is temporarily removed, it must be transported on the stainless steel trolley.
• The electronic balance should not be moved unless necessary. If you must move it, use extreme care as it is a finely tuned and expensive instrument.
• Microscopes should be used only at the microscope workstations in Room 268H. Obtain permission to use them from your project director. You will need to check out a key in Condon 308.
• Computers are for working on archaeological collections only. They are not for wordprocessing, email, or graphics unrelated to projects. No software for hardware changes are permitted without supervising faculty consent.

6) Faunal Reference Collections are Restricted.

Students can only work with the faunal reference collections under the direct supervision of a faculty member or graduate student. All comparative faunal material resides in Room 264 unless permission for temporary use in Room 268 is granted by Professors Moss, Ayres, or Erlandson. Any student working with these materials is required to abide by a separate set of protocols: Zooarchaeology Laboratory Protocols.

7) Hazardous Materials.

• All chemicals should be clearly labeled and kept in the sink area or darkroom. Safety information on all chemicals is to be kept on-hand in the darkroom and above the sinks. You should never use chemicals without authorization and instruction.
• All foreign soil (soil samples, soil residue washed from artifacts or soil containers) requiring a USDA permit must be autoclaved before disposal, and water used for soil or artifact processing requires special treatment. Consult the appropriate protocols, kept in the file cabinet, before processing any material requiring a USDA permit.
• The fine dust from marine and freshwater shells and from soil can be harmful is inhaled. Wear a dust mask when you screen shell or otherwise produce shell dust.

8) Food and Drink.

Archaeological materials are priceless and equipment is expensive. Eating is never permitted while working, and eating in the laboratory is strongly discouraged. Occasional eating is permissible if, and only if, food is consumed far enough away from all archaeological collections and supplies so that there is no chance of contamination or damage, and all traces of food, wrappers, packaging, etc. are completely cleaned up afterward. You may drink while you work only if your beverage container has a secure lid on it. Please recycle bottles and cans in the appropriate recepticle. If bottles and cans are found strewn around the lab, we may have to preclude everyone from drinking beverages. Keep all food and beverages away from computer equipment and drafting tables. Eating and drinking in the lab will be disallowed if this privilege is abused by any person.

9) Radio and Tapes.

The lab is shared work and study area, and the needs of those who wish to concentrate on their work must be respected. Listening to music on tapes or radio is permitted only if there is unanimous consent as to the type and volume of music. Always ask others if they mind having the radio on. If one person objects, the radio should be turned off. Faculty and supervising graduate students have the authority to turn off the radio whenever they feel this is prudent. If conflicts arise over radio usage, the privilege to listen to music will be revoked. "Walkmans" are allowed assuming they do not impair your concentration or disturb others.

10) Clean Up.

Leave ample time for cleaning up. When you reach a stopping point for the day, be sure to put your work away and return all supplies to their proper storage places. Do not leave anything on the drafting tables, main project tables, or sink counters unless you are specifically authorized to do so by your project supervisor. If yo use the sink for cleaning artifacts or processing soils, be sure to thoroughly clean the area before leaving. Cleanser and other cleaning supplies are located beneath the sink.

11) Lock Up.

Rooms 268 and 264 contain valuable collections and equipment from around the world, some of which has accumulated over decades of research. Never leave these rooms unlocked with no one inside. If no one is in the room, the door MUST be locked. If this rule is not followed, the individuals responsible for this security lapse may have their laboratory privileges revoked.

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