Collections and Facilities

The Northeast Archaeology Laboratory curates archaeological collections from the ancestral homeland of the Wabanaki Nations (Maine and the Canadian Maritimes). Our collections reflect five decades of research and span approximately 10,000 years of human history. The Laboratory houses Indigenous collections from sites along the coast and from the Penobscot and Kennebec River valleys. Additionally, we have a large collection of materials from French and British historical sites in Maine.

The Northeast Archaeology Laboratory serves as a curation repository for archaeological collections and records from studies linked to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. These include archaeological collections generated by the Army Corps of Engineers and regional hydro-electric companies and others carrying out federal cultural resources management projects.

In keeping with the spirit of co-stewardship of archaeological materials, our curation practices and ethical standards are subject to a formal, collaborative policy agreement. We are part of a Memorandum of Understanding between the University of Maine and the Penobscot Nation, which serves as a model for our ongoing efforts to implement shared stewardship of Indigenous heritage collections across the Wabanaki nations.

Back to Northeast Archaeology Laboratory

Back to UMaine Anthropology Laboratories