An evaluation of the UHF radio frequency identification technology for applications in archaeological repository management

Radio frequency identification (RFID) has received a great deal of attention as an emerging automatic identification technology in supply chain management, personal identification, asset management, and academic arenas such as libraries and museums. Further, RFID implementation is improving informational access to researchers and the general public alike. While RFID has proven to be a useful tool for public libraries and museum collections, the potential benefit of RFID in the management of cultural resources extends beyond public facilities to the front lines of archaeological research: the artifact repository. This research evaluates the performance of an ultra-high frequency (UHF) RFID-enabled repository management system (R-RMS) for archaeological artifacts.;The R-RMS evaluation utilized a custom software program to perform the inventory and information management functions of documenting newly discovered artifacts, recalling object-specific database entries and auditing artifact inventories. Test scenarios were developed according to four subcategories; individual artifacts, bags of artifact groups, storage bins filled with artifact bags, and related reference materials. The results of on-site UHF testing at two active repositories conclusively demonstrated the efficacy of all R-RMS functions.