Research Resources
Welcome to the “Research Resources” pages at sha.org. We created these pages to highlight resources whose content are SHA-approved, but are not necessarily created and copy edited to conform with SHA style and format. Looking for archaeological services and supplies? Browse the SHA Marketplace.
Abandoned Burial Grounds
The SHA has created this page to share information about abandoned burial grounds with the public. This page provides resources that can be used in learning how to identify an abandoned burial ground, how to record a burial ground, and what the laws are in your area for burial grounds and cemetery protection. This web section contains information on burial ground Identification, Recording, Laws and Regulations, and Resources.
Archaeological Repository Survey
In 2017 the SHA Collections and Curation Committee formed a sub-committee to collect information about archaeological repositories across the United States with a particular focus on curation fees. This Story Map summarizes the results of that survey. Please be aware that this is not a comprehensive list of all repositories in each state, but a living document that we hope to build upon. Additionally, curation fees are only summarized here and are subject to changes or calculations that may not be reflected in this resource. Do NOT use the fees listed here to estimate curation budgets without contacting the repositories directly. This map is generated by a volunteer committee and may not reflect the most current information.
Digital Tools for Archaeologists
This page hosts a growing resource of digital tools for historical archaeology hosted by the Technologies Committee
Interpreting Overseas Chinese Ceramics
Archaeologists have not studied Chinese-produced ceramics from historic sites with the same fine-grained contextual analysis and interpretation that is often given to European-produced ceramics recovered from the same period and even the same sites. This is largely due to the fact that North American historical archaeologists have not sought out Chinese ceramic experts or Chinese written sources, nor have they visited historical sites of pottery production in Southern China.In this article, the author presents information on ceramics that are commonly found in nearly all sites associated with 19th century Chinese immigrants, drawing from his life experience, research, and travel to pottery producing regions and ceramic museums in South China, as well as personal interviews with ceramic experts in China.
Artifact Cataloging System
This is a cooperative effort intended to provide users with an artifact catalog system suitable for mid 19th to early 20th century archaeological sites. SHARD is a cataloging system and relational database built on MS Office Access. It comes complete with a How-to Manual and example tables.
Common 20th Century Artifacts – A Guide to Dating
Historical archeologists and others trying to date historical sites by means of the artifacts found on them are increasingly interested in common items manufactured during the lifetimes of people still living. This dating guide is intended to provide a simple source for the most common artifacts found in archeological or historic contexts.
Conservation FAQs and Facts
This module is intended both to provide answers to commonly asked questions and to serve as a resource kit. It was created in response to queries received from archaeologists.
Curation Standards
Standards and guidelines developed by The Society for Historical Archaeology with the explicit goals of permitting the long-term preservation of archaeological collections and maintaining their research and public education values.
Heritage at Risk – Story Map (external link)
Archaeologists worldwide are concerned about climate change, both in impacts to heritage sites but also to the communities they serve. In 2017, the Society for Historical Archaeology formed the Heritage at Risk Committee (HARC) to promote research and outreach on this topic. This exhibit features case studies by archaeologists working in different communities to shine a light on the issue and look for sustainable solutions..
Historic Bottle Identification
This is a cooperative effort intended to provide users with a practical tool for historic bottle identification.
Links in Historical Archaeology
Other Research Links to Related Professional Societies and Agencies
Parks Canada Resources
This is a cooperative effort intended to provide users with a series of useful Parks Canada publications. Parks Canada retains copyright of its publications, and they are made available here, courtesy of Parks Canada.
Newsletter Articles
These articles are excerpted from the SHA’s quarterly newsletter. They provide a venue for sharing methods and results of historical archaeological projects.
Online Bibliographies
Bibliographies provide an excellent way of organizing previous research, and assist researchers in locating sometimes hard-to-find references.
Perspectives from Historical Archaeology: Subject and Regional Readers in Historical Archaeology
Perspectives from Historical Archaeology are subject and regional readers on a variety of topics of interest to archaeologists and scholars in related fields. Each volume includes an introduction by the compiler with reviews historical archaeology’s work on the topic. Perspectives issues are available in both perfect bound and pdf formats. The first of the new Perspectives Series of Readers is African Diaspora Archaeology, compiled by Chris Fennell. To purchase readers from the Perspectives Series, click here.
The Society for Historical Archaeology Forum on Collections Management
Collections management forum. Resources about handling of collections and issues of the curation crisis, click here.
Be sure to visit the SHA Publications pages, too.
For additional research resources that have been peer-reviewed and copy edited to SHA style, please visit the Publications pages and view the options available under SHA Online, including past SHA Journal articles, Guides to Literature, Special Publications, and Underwater Archaeology Proceedings. In addition, please see the Technical Briefs on the Publications pages. Technical Briefs in Historical Archaeology is an electronic peer-reviewed publication series devoted to the fast dissemination of shorter specialized technical papers in historical archaeology, maritime archaeology, material culture technology and materials conservation. Book reviews published in Historical Archaeology are posted on the SHA website.