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If detailed analysis of certain archaeological materials is planned, it is advisable to include appropriate specialists as early in the project as possible.
Because most archaeological sites are valuable primarily because of their research potential, artifact analysis generally should follow well-established classification schemes and typologies. The choice of a specific system will depend on the investigators goals and should be fully defined and referenced in the project report. MDAH prefers to use the lexicon from DAACS for artifact description. Regardless of which classification system one uses, certain basic descriptions and analyses must be included in the report:
Examples of diagnostic prehistoric attributes include pottery sherds that are decorated, rims, bases, or lugs, Poverty Point Objects, figurines, ear spools, complete vessels; lithic points, scrapers, drills, ground stone, bifaces; exotic (imported) raw material; and worked bone.
Examples of diagnostic historic attributes include ceramic sherds that are decorated, rims, maker's marks, complete vessels, buttons, marbles, pipes, figurines and doll parts; cut, pressed, or decorated glass, vessel bases and lips, labels, and complete vessels; identifiable metals such as gun parts, tools, hinges, nails, buckles, machine parts, and eating utensils; identifiable plastic or rubber; and worked bone.
A laboratory or catalog sheet printed on archival paper with acid-free, waterproof ink should be used to record the analyst's observations. In addition, the analyst may keep a diary of any observations, impressions, drawings, and any special analyses performed on the artifacts. This will become part of the official record when the collection is curated.
A Pantone color chips should be used to describe color variations in artifacts for uniform descriptions http://www.pantone.com/solid-chips-coated-uncoated. For color descriptions of historic artifacts (specifically ceramic, you can print color chips from the DAACS website: http://www.daacs.org/about-the-database/
16 Miss. Code. R. 3-12.10.4