Thomas,

Heh, heh, heh, isn't this fun?  Without a doubt, smudging adds "dirt" to the
objects.  Long-term, dirt and associated burned/partially burned accretions
is likely to damage many artifacts.  What types, how much, how severe all
depend upon way too many factors to consider as generalities.  But in
general, smudging can not be recommended as a preservation practice.
However, it appears that the objects in question are not considered as
static collections, but rather as on-going components of a cultural
tradition.  In this context, the smudging may actually add character to the
objects, while possibly shortening their lifespans.  The issue is similar to
use of collections.  In virtually all instances, use hastens deterioration.
However, the informational content of the object can be so much greater with
use, that the trade-off with deterioration is acceptable.  The trick here is
to clearly separate out objects for which preservation is paramount from
those where use and cultural practice are acceptable.  This is similar to a
museum having an accessioned collection that requires preservation, and an
educational collection (ideally not accessioned in the same system) where
deterioration from use is expected.

Marc

American Conservation Consortium, Ltd.
     4 Rockville Road
     Broad Brook, CT 06016
     www.conservator.com
     860-386-6058



*Collections Preservation Consultation
*Conservation Assessments & Surveys
*Environmental Monitoring & Low-Tech Control
*Moisture Management Solutions
*Collections in Historic Structures
*Collections Care Grant Preparation
*Conservation Treatment of:
     Furniture
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     Architectural Interiors



Marc A. Williams, President
     MS in Art Conservation, Winterthur Museum Program
     Former Chief Wooden Object Conservator, Smithsonian Institution
     Fellow, American Institute for Conservation (AIC)

  -----Original Message-----
  From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
Behalf Of Thomas Kavanagh
  Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2008 5:14 PM
  To: [log in to unmask]
  Subject: [MUSEUM-L] Smudging in a Tribal Museum


  Listeros (and conservators in particular):



  An question has arisen in regard to a tribal museum for which tribe I am a
sometime historical/cultural/NAGPRA consultant.



  The museum building [which has no secure storage, only exhibition and
office space] also houses the tribal NAGPRA offices. When they (the latter)
receive repatriated artifacts (not burials), they often "smudge" them, smoke
them as a blessing (and to fumigate them, if you will) with cedar or sage
smoke. [An off-site secure storage for the NAGPRA items is available.]



  The museum director, a tribal member and trained archaeologist, but not a
long-time community resident, has issued a "burn ban" on any smudging in the
building. This has upset the NAGPRA committee.



  What say ye:



  Is the occasional exposure [e.g., perhaps once every twenty years per
artifact] of artifacts to cedar/sage smoke necessarily harmful? One of the
tribe's NAGPRA board, a trained ornithologist, and the source of the above
"fumigation" comment, suggests that it might be beneficial for items that
have not been kept in ideal collections conditions. [I am also told that an
examination of the building's blue prints shows that the exhibition space
and the office space [i.e., museum and NAGPRA spaces] are on separate and
distinct HVAC circuits.]



  Thomas Kavanagh, PhD

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