State is missing more than 1,800 artifacts, audit shows
HARRISBURG -- More than 1,800 historic artifacts, including a Civil War-era rifle and an eight-century-old Turkish gold ring, are missing from the state's collection, according to an audit released today.
State Auditor General Jack Wagner attributed the losses to lax oversight and an antiquated inventory system used to track the state's 4.5 million artifacts.
Other items were found to be damaged, including some that had been suspended from overhead pipes or stored in humid basements.
"The missing artifacts are pieces of Pennsylvania history that are likely lost forever, either through mishandling or theft," Mr. Wagner said....
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State Auditor General Jack Wagner attributed the losses to lax oversight and an antiquated inventory system used to track the state's 4.5 million artifacts.
Other items were found to be damaged, including some that had been suspended from overhead pipes or stored in humid basements.
"The missing artifacts are pieces of Pennsylvania history that are likely lost forever, either through mishandling or theft," Mr. Wagner said....