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
 

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Marc A. Williams, President
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-----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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