Processing and Digitization: WPA’s Morhiss Mound (41VT1) Primary Documents
Jose Garcia and a timber rattler. Length 5’10”.
1932.0012_41VT1_Photo-219
Folsom-like flint in situ.
1932.0012_41VT1_Photo-131
Nest of cardium shells, completely uncovered.
1932.0012_41VT1_Photo-120
Lessons From The Past, An Unconventional Archive
The Texas Archeological Research Laboratory (TARL) at the University of Texas at Austin's mission is to collect, preserve, and curate archeological specimens and records; train students, conduct archeological research, and disseminate information about Texas’ archeological legacy.
From 1932 to 1939 the Works Project Administration completed site excavations of Morhiss Mound (41VT1), a prehistoric occupation and burial site in Victoria County, Texas. The primary documents of these excavations include over 8 linear feet of text documents, photographic prints and nitrate negatives, glass negatives, and maps. In this project these materials were inventoried, organized, treated with preservation techniques, and digitized to ensure the greater preservation of sensitive record formats and allow TARL to provide more expedient and complete access of site records to students and qualified researchers.
View of terraced dig.
1932.0012_41VT1_Photo-52
Archival Excavation
Due to the unconventional nature of TARL's collections, consideration for archeological record retrieval and storage were paramount.
Record group objects were located and an inventory was created.
Records were assessed and repaired, organized and rehoused in archival materials according to original order.
Records were digitized to TARL's standards using a pre-established workflow for Text documents and establishing an updated workflow for Photographs, Negatives, and Glass Negative digitization.
Archival principles for metadata collection were applied to archeological inventory CSV for future ingestion into TARL's SQL Database.
Flint projectile points and drill.
1932.0012_41VT1_Photo-011
Snake vertebrae and bird bone beads found in burial.
1932.0012_41VT1_Photo-018
Enhanced Access
This project resulted in the improved access of TARL Collection 1932.0012 - Morhiss Mound (41VT1) for students and researchers, including ~5 linear feet of text records, 406 photographs, 424 nitrate negatives, and 41 glass negatives as well as an updated workflow for preservation quality digitization of cultural heritage photographs and negatives.
A portion of the Morhiss Mound collection prior to processing and digitization.
Digitizing photo sleeves that previously housed nitrate negatives in a mass digitization session onsite at TARL.
All images from TARL Collection 1932.0012 - Morhiss Mound (41VT1)