reply to post by Hanslune
I do not know, or really even claim that they are hiding anything. I think that it is a possibility, for sure. I know how "upper management" can
work to make things happen, and the Smithsonian surely is not some ivory palace of purity that other organizations cannot achieve.
I know that science has a FIERCE propensity to fight for the status quo, resisting change at nearly all costs.
if i am to believe that the government (or DoD) can "lose" billions of dollars, i certainly should believe that the Smithsonian could lose, in its
vast warehouse, various artifacts. From my understanding (which you are correct in questioning, as I have never worked for a museum), there are
artifiacts that were delivered before record keeping was standardized and have fallen below the radar. Further clouding the scene must be various
misclassifications and misidentifications of artifacts.
I will tell you what, though. If you are knowledgable, provide me some educational background that i may expand my understanding a little better
with. I am sure that others in this forum would benefit from it as well.

I truly do not mean this sarcastically, and apologize if it seems as
such. Gotta get to work.