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Department of Anthropology

Mexican Masks in storage


Sampling Committee

The sampling committee was organized in 1981 to review requests to sample specimens from the collections of the Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History. The committee is composed of several curators, the collections manager, a conservator, and the Chairman of the Department. Curators are selected based on the expertise required to properly evaluate individual sampling requests.

Evaluation Criteria

Sampling Proposals are evaluated according to the following criteria:

  • The research proposal is sound;
  • The use of Smithsonian collections in lieu of others is justified;
  • The analytical methods proposed should yield the intended results, and are the least intrusive analytical means of obtaining those results;
  • The proposed analyst is qualified to perform the work;
  • The amount of sample and number of specimens requested is necessary to obtain accurate results;
  • Each specimen can be safely sampled without damage or defacement or the preclusion of future study or analysis;
  • The degree to which any proposed destructive sampling affects the specimen is minimal;
  • The samples will be returned so they can be retained for future use; and
  • The probability of receiving analytical results from the researcher is high.

Sampling Decision

The Sampling Committee may approve, table or disapprove any sampling request based on the above criteria. Requests are generally tabled if Committee members feel they have insufficient information on which to base a decision. The Committee may request more information, research, or further analysis before a final decision is made. For example, the Committee may stipulate that the requester obtain plausible results from the analysis of his/her collection to which they wish to compare our collections, before sampling ours. Proposed sampling methods also may be modified by the Committee.

Sampling Procedures and Required Documentation

The following procedures will be followed for all sampling unless otherwise specified by the Sampling Committee:

  • All objects will be photographed and/or condition will be adequately documented before and after sampling. Photographs must be of sufficient detail to discern the area which has been sampled. One copy of each photograph, properly labeled will be sent to the Anthropology Conservation Laboratory (ACL) as soon as they are processed;
  • The location of each sampling site will be determined by a Department conservator and/or curator, unless the Sampling Committee has previously specified the location. All samples will be taken under the supervision of a conservator;
  • The amount of sample taken will not exceed that specified by the Sampling Committee;
  • All analytical results, including raw data if applicable, will be sent to the ACL for permanent storage in the ACL records. All records, except published reports, will be kept confidentially, however, the name of a researcher may be given to others proposing to use our collections for similar research projects. In this case, the second researcher may be required to obtain analytical results from the first researcher before the latter request is approved.
  • Requests for additional samples for continued research will not be approved by the Sampling Committee until #1 and #4 above have been satisfied.
  • Any subsequent publications citing the analysis of sampled specimens must be sent to the Chairman of the Sampling Committee for permanent filing in the ACL records.

Submitting a Sampling Request

The following information must be included in all requests to sample an object (including those from staff):

    1. Date of sampling request;
    2. Type of sample requested (include materials, culture, other pertinent information);
    3. Requesters name, address, phone number, e-mail address;
    4. Purpose of analysis (attach a formal proposal or a statement describing the proposed research methodology and expected analytical results);
    5. Type of analysis to be performed (destructive or nondestructive to the objects);
    6. Sample size or weight;
    7. Location where the analysis will be performed (Name of institution and contact information);
    8. Date when the sample will be returned (if applicable);
    9. Samples taken;
    10. Catalog number and description of each object (please note whether the objects is from the Archaeology, Ethnology, or Physical Anthropology Division).

In addition, sampling requests should include a formal statement that elaborates on Item 4, "Purpose of Analysis," by describing the proposed research methodology and sampling procedure, as well as expected analytical results. These materials will be reviewed by the Sampling Committee members in advance and are discussed at the Sampling Committee meeting.

Please e-mail your sampling request to:

Greta Hansen, Chair
Anthropology Sampling Committee
hanseng@si.edu

Note: Photographic documentation for the Conservation Laboratory files is required for all sampling. 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.

 

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