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Museum
Collections and
NAGPRA
Artifacts and fossils removed from
the public lands continue to play an important role in BLM's cultural
heritage and fossil resource programs.
- Exhibits
in museums, universities, historical societies and visitors'
centers offer the public the best way to see outstanding specimens
and to learn about the range of cultural and fossil resources
in the BLM's charge.
- Collections and associated records
are subjects of scientific research to answer many questions
about our past.
- Collections are also important
to the people whose cultures they represent.
Since the beginning of the nineteenth
century, almost as soon as Lewis and Clark opened the West, individuals
and institutions have conducted scientific research on the Western
public lands. The pace of investigations has skyrocketed in the
past 30 years, and shows no sign of slowing down. Excavation has
resulted in the collection of millions of scientifically important
archaeological, paleontological and historical objects. Most of
these objects, plus the maps, photographs, and other records associated
with them, are housed and maintained in repositories, where they
are the ongoing subjects of scientific study and public interpretation.
The BLM itself operates three such
repositories, the
Anasazi Heritage Center, the
Billings Curation Center, and the
National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. The bulk
of collections from the public lands are located in more than
155 public and private facilities,
which house, preserve, document, research, interpret, and exhibit
the material on behalf of all Americans.
Special kinds of museum collections
have come into focus since 1990 through the implementation of
the Native
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA).
NAGPRA requires Federal agencies, museums and institutions that
receive Federal funds to locate, inventory and determine the ultimate
disposition of certain kinds of objects that have special importance
for American Indian peoples.
To learn more, click a link below.
Introduction
to BLM Museum Collections
Repositories
with BLM Collections
NAGPRA
Implementation
Spirit Cave
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