Programs
What We Do
The North Carolina Office of State Archaeology serves the people of our state by identifying, protecting, and preserving important archaeological sites. We work with other state agencies and local governments to protect these sites and review applications for the National Register of Historic Places. Our goal is to help people learn more about North Carolina's history and prehistory by maintaining collections for research and offering educational events. We host public education events and digital platforms to share the field of archaeology with the community. While we focus on protecting archaeological resources, we also aim to do so without slowing down progress in development. The programs offered by the state archaeology office are as diverse as North Carolina itself!
We help protect endangered archaeological sites on private and public lands and waterways by following state and federal laws. We work closely with private citizens, local governments, law enforcement, and other state agencies like the Commission of Indian Affairs, State Historic Sites, and the Division of State Parks and Recreation.
We work with the State Historic Preservation Office to review projects that use federal or state funds or permits. We give recommendations on whether these projects might harm historic properties. These reviews follow cultural resource laws, including Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, North Carolina General Statute 121-12(a), and the North Carolina Coastal Area Management Act.
We keep a record of all the archaeological sites across the state, including those on public and private land. So far, more than 60,000 sites have been recorded, and the number keeps growing. The information we collect includes site forms, maps, field notes, photos, artifact collections, and other data. We also have large libraries of archaeological reports and publications at OSA facilities, which are available to archaeologists, students, teachers, and other agencies.
We keep records of archaeological sites that are listed in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and help prepare and review nominations for these sites. We also keep track of sites that are not listed in the NRHP to protect resources and support scientific research.
A key part of the OSA is running public education programs about prehistoric and historic archaeology. We show archaeological techniques, give lectures, and create different types of publications about North Carolina archaeology. We also share information through workshops, symposiums, and professional papers at archaeological meetings.
We provide museums, universities, and local government agencies with help in project planning, contract reviews, grant reports, and protecting archaeological sites. We act as an important connection between local, state, and federal agencies for all parts of regulatory compliance, public education, and archaeological research in the state.