North Carolina Office of State Archaeology

North Carolina Office of State Archaeology
Name	North Carolina Office of State Archaeology
Formation	1971
Jurisdiction	Raleigh, North Carolina
Chief1 name	State Archaeologist
Parent agency	North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources

North Carolina Office of State Archaeology is the state-level agency responsible for archaeological research, preservation, and stewardship in North Carolina. Established to coordinate surveys, manage archaeological collections, and implement state law, the office works with federal agencies, tribal governments, universities, and museums to protect cultural resources across sites such as Fort Bragg, Roanoke Island, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Wilmington, and the Outer Banks. Staff collaborate with partners including National Park Service, United States Army Corps of Engineers, Historic St. Mary's City, Maryland Historical Trust, and academic centers at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, East Carolina University, Duke University, North Carolina State University, and Appalachian State University.

History

The office traces origins to surveys and salvage projects following construction of reservoirs and military installations under programs like the Civilian Conservation Corps initiatives and Works Progress Administration fieldwork. Growth accelerated after enactment of state preservation statutes influenced by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, leading to formal establishment concurrent with expanding roles in state agencies such as the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources and later the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Key historical collaborations include mitigation at Jordan Lake, excavations near Research Triangle Park, and consultations for infrastructure projects involving the Federal Highway Administration, Amtrak, and the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

Mission and Responsibilities

The office's mission emphasizes identification, documentation, and protection of archaeological sites, integrating requirements from the National Environmental Policy Act, Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979, and state statutes such as the North Carolina Antiquities Act. Responsibilities include statewide survey and inventory management in coordination with agencies like the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, consultation with federally recognized tribes including the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, and the Coharie Tribe, and providing technical guidance to museums including the North Carolina Museum of History and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. The office also issues determinations for project compliance under programs administered by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Science Foundation.

Organizational Structure

Reporting to the Secretary of Natural and Cultural Resources, leadership centers on the State Archaeologist supported by teams in survey, collections, curation, and compliance. Functional units coordinate with institutional partners such as the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), the Department of Transportation Archaeology Program, and university research centers like the Center for Public Archaeology at East Carolina University. Field crews, curatorial staff, and outreach coordinators liaise with local governments including Wake County, Mecklenburg County, New Hanover County, tribal historic preservation offices, and federal land managers like Fort Fisher State Historic Site and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for submerged cultural resource matters.

Programs and Projects

Major initiatives encompass systematic survey projects across the Piedmont, Coastal Plain, and Blue Ridge Mountains; mitigation archaeology for Interstate 40, I-95, and US Route 64 improvements; and excavations at prehistoric and historic sites such as Cacoosing Creek-era villages, plantation sites near New Bern, and Civil War fortifications like Fort Fisher. Collaborative research extends to paleoenvironmental studies with the United States Geological Survey, ethnohistoric projects with the Smithsonian Institution, and maritime archaeology with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Office of National Marine Sanctuaries at shipwrecks off Cape Lookout. Public archaeology programs partner with North Carolina Archaeological Council, Society for American Archaeology, Archaeological Institute of America, and local historical societies.

Collections and Repositories

The office curates artifact assemblages, faunal and botanical samples, and documentary records, often housed in state repositories and partner institutions including the North Carolina State Archives, the Research Laboratories of Archaeology at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and museum collections at Bennett Place State Historic Site and the Tryon Palace. Collections management follows standards promoted by the American Alliance of Museums and accession policies aligned with the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. Long-term curation agreements exist with regional repositories in Asheville, Charlotte, and Greensboro.

Public Outreach and Education

Public programs include site tours, school curricula in partnership with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, volunteer field schools hosted with universities, and exhibits at institutions such as the North Carolina Museum of History and Alamance Battleground State Historic Site. Outreach collaborations involve professional organizations like the Society for Historical Archaeology and community groups including local historical societies and tribal cultural centers. The office contributes to digital resources, GIS portals, and publications aimed at audiences from K–12 students to scholars at journals published by the Southeastern Archaeological Conference and monographs from university presses such as University of North Carolina Press.

Legal and Regulatory Authority

Authority is exercised under state statutes, programmatic agreements with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and compliance protocols derived from federal laws including the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the Archaeological Resources Protection Act of 1979, and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The office consults on Section 106 reviews with agencies like the Federal Highway Administration, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the National Park Service, and coordinates repatriation under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act with federally recognized tribes and the Department of the Interior. Enforcement and permitting intersect with state offices such as the Attorney General of North Carolina and the State Historic Preservation Office.

Category:Archaeology of North Carolina Category:State agencies of North Carolina