Preservation vs. Education

The other day in class we briefly touched on the preservation of records, artifacts, etc. It is obviously of immense importance to preserve these materials. Digitization can help do this. Photos of records can be made available online. A digital 3D model of an artifact can be created which allows users to view it from all angles and perspectives. (Even a physical copy of an artifact can be made.) Through such methods collections can be preserved and not damaged from public interaction. Digitization provides public access to much more of the collection than would be possible in a physical museum. Despite this, however, I feel the public is missing out on a key educational experience.

At Awenda Provincial Park we have an aboriginal artifact in the form of a stone scraper. This often comes out on guided hikes and gets passed around to the participants. This contributes to the degradation of the artifact, but the public can touch this stone that was actually shaped and used by human hands hundreds of years ago. This “sacrifice” of certain artifacts, I believe improves the public understanding and experience of history. It is so much more meaningful when they can see and touch something real.

As an aside: I have heard one Wendat individual’s perspective on artifacts. He stated that an artifact can still be used by the appropriate people in an appropriate manner. For example he could use a pipe made by his ancestors. I would add that one must still respect the artifact and the people who made it. (He most likely said this, but I do not recall the entire conversation.) This was interesting to me coming from the perspective that all artifacts should be stored and preserved. I am beginning to rethink this belief.