Archaeological Research Institute aims to preserve archaeological materials and host educational programs

The Archaeological Research Institute is located within the Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona. The institute's purpose is to preserve archaeological materials and data, to conduct research programs that are associated with the archaeological record and to host educational programs for the members of the community. The Institute's collections are vital to preserving the heritage of prehistory, material traces from past cultures and the information that is encoded in them.

The materials at the institute are preserved with applicable government policies and procedures and professional standards. Maintaining the collections is done to the high standard of curation, which includes the procedures based on the advancements in the field, data collection, management, access and transfer. Data and artifacts at the institute are made accessible for research, exhibition, education and publication. The institute curates over 70,000 pieces of information that includes materials that have excavated within the Tonto National Forest. Pieces of anthropology that is collected at the institute to aide with archaeological research include; Whole and Reconstructed Ceramic Vessel Collection and Southwest Ceramics Type Collection.

The institute participates in research activities relating to the collections to expand on the scientific value of the materials and the knowledge of the past. The institute uses new state of the art methodology to research the collections and to make the facilities and collections available for other researchers to use.

Public outreach programs are held by staff at the institute to inform the public on the activities that are happening at the institute and to inform them of the information on archaeological finds regarding the pre history of Arizona and to enhance public interest to respect the materials. This includes Native American training to provide skills to interest Native American students and members of the community.

Information that is obtained by the Archaeological research Institute is available for researches to study or other museums to exhibit. This may include specimens, photographs, reports and records from current projects of the institute.