Sampling and Casting Request Form

Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution

REVIEW COMMITTEE:

Since 1981 a departmental committee was organized to review requests to analyze

specimens from the collections of the Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History (NMNH). The committee is composed of several curators, the collections manager, a conservator, and the Department Chair. Curators are selected based on the expertise required to properly evaluate individual sampling and casting requests.

SAMPLING AND CASTING REQUEST:

Anyone wishing to sample or cast an object of the Department of Anthropology, NMNH,

including staff, must complete a Sampling and Casting Request Form (see below). The form is self-explanatory and reminds the investigator of documentation procedures required in this process. In addition to summarizing the "Purpose of Analysis", the researcher is required to elaborate in this section by including a formal proposal or a statement describing the proposed research methodology, sampling procedure if relevant, casting procedure and materials if relevant, as well as expected analytical results.

The submitted Request Form is reviewed by the Committee members in advance and is

discussed at the monthly departmental Collections Advisory Committee meeting.

SAMPLING AND CASTING REQUEST FORM:

REQUESTOR (please include name, address, phone number, email, name of Institution)

DATE OF REQUEST

TYPE OF ANALYSIS REQUESTED (destructive or non-destructive to objects, casting)

I have read and understand the documents at RULES FOR REQUESTS

PURPOSE OF ANALYSIS (include a formal proposal or a statement describing the

proposed research methodology and expected analytical results)

TYPE OF ANALYSIS TO BE PERFORMED

(destructive or non-destructive to objects, casting)

SAMPLE SIZE OR WEIGHT

WHERE WILL THE ANALYSIS OR CASTING BE PERFORMED

(please include address, phone number, contact, and name of Institution)

WILL THE SAMPLE(S) BE RETURNED? IF SO, WHEN?

OBJECTS REQUESTED: (include Catalog numbers and description)

When completed please email this document to Greta Hansen, Chair Anthropology Sampling Committee mailto:hanseng@si.edu

NOTE: Photographic documentation for the Conservation Laboratory files is required for all analytical procedures, including casting. In addition, analysis results or a copy of the publication containing these results are to be submitted to the Conservation Laboratory for the permanent record.