In this study I examine the causes of a national curation crisis that results, among other things, in the inability to care well for artifact collections, particularly in college and university museum repositories. The research I conducted was based on two sets of data. First, I conducted a survey-based pilot study given to staff associated with collection management at other institutions. Second, I conducted a participant observation-based case study of the archaeological collections housed in the Center for Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College. I conclude that some possible factors contributing to the curation crisis are 1) a lack of proper research design before archaeological excavations take place; 2) an emphasis on archaeological practice to the detriment of that of conservation; 3) the emergence of the cultural resource management field in response to a plethora of national and state laws; and 4) a separation between personnel involved in caring for cultural resources, such as archaeological and museum professionals and the ever dwindling staff who carry out necessary work. Finally I propose a few recommendations regarding how we might deal with the curation process, at least at the local level.
