The Archaeological Survey of Idaho

The Archaeological Survey of Idaho (ASI) has its roots in the Archaeology Survey System of the Idaho State College Museum (now the Natural History Museum), developed by Earl H. Swanson in 1958. The oversight of the survey was transferred in 1976 to the State Archaeologist with the support of the Idaho Advisory Council of Professional Archaeologists (IACPA) and three repositories were formed to care for archaeological information and collections.

In 1992, the Idaho Legislature formally established the Idaho Archaeological Survey as a multi-agency cooperative program. Idaho Statute (33-3901) specifically defines the Idaho Archaeological Survey as:

to be administered as a special cooperative program under the authority of the Idaho state board of education and the board of regents of the university of Idaho. It is the policy of the state of Idaho that the archaeological resources recovered from within the state, and their associated documentation, be accorded long-term curation within the state to ensure their continued accessibility by the educational programs of the state universities and for the public benefit of the citizens of the state of Idaho. It is a policy of the state of Idaho that archaeological inventories conducted within the state be documented in a comprehensive database accessible by educational programs and for other public purposes consistent with the protection of these resources. The survey shall be the lead state entity for the compilation, coordination, preservation and dissemination of archaeological survey data and long-term curation of collections for Idaho. This information is to be acquired through field and laboratory investigations by the staff of the survey and through cooperative programs with other governmental and private agencies, including the educational programs at the state universities which recover, use and care for archaeological materials. Nothing in this chapter shall limit the established role of the state universities in archaeological research and educational programs using archaeological materials.

 

Currently the survey operates three Repositories. The Earl H. Swanson Archaeological Repository (ESAR), located at Idaho State University, Pocatello, serves as the Eastern Repository of ASI. It is a curatorial center and repository for archaeological collections from the twenty-four counties in southeastern Idaho. Collections originating in the northern and southwestern portions of the state are curated at the Northern Repository, located at the Alfred W. Bowers Laboratory of Anthropology, University of Idaho, Moscow, and the Western Repository, Office of the State Archaeologist, located at  Boise State University.

Areas of Responsibility for Repositories

 

 

 

Home

Owl Cave, Wasden Site (10BV30). Courtesy of Idaho Museum of Natural History.

Stratigraphy of Owl Cave. Courtesy of Idaho Museum of Natural History.

Earl H. Swanson archaeological Repository

Archaeological survey of Idaho, Eastern adjunct