Archaeological Storage Organization and Management. A Case Study of Fort Jesus Museum, Mombasa Kenya

Abstract

This report presents a study done in the Fort Jesus museum on the archaeological storage organization and management and how this is likely to lead to deterioration of collections. The research sought to answer the question whether poor storage organization is likely to lead to the deterioration of archaeological objects at the museum. Its main objective was to study the store and come up with qualitative information concerning the facility and also information on what should be done to mitigate damage to the objects. The study was based on published data as well as observations made by the author himself Relevant data was collected in photographs and tables. Instruments used for the data collections and throughout the study included among others thermohygrographs, cameras, scanners and the like. Collected data has been descriptively analyzed by comparatively looking at the standard practice in published literature and the level at which Fort Jesus museum is operating then asking whether it is at the standard practice or below. From this basis, guidelines and recommendations have been drawn. Nevertheless, results gathered revealed that stored objects are likely to deteriorate at Fort Jesus Museum due to both poor storage organization and management. To project these collections to the future, the study has recommended that sustained effort should be made to improve conditions in the storage facilities. On the same level, a number of proposals for further action have been offered among these being the need to draft collection care and management policies for Fort Jesus museum and training of staff in basic collection management and care. All in all to achieve optimum preservation of collections, the study observed that there is need for renewal of the commitment by the museum itself to the care of its collections because this is the first step if these collections are to preserve for the present and future generations.