REFERENCE archeology

Historic archaeology resources for private individuals in Orange County, North Carolina. This information was developed by Steve Rankin, archeologist and member of the Historic Preservation Commission. This is a part of a section the Commission is working on in to help individuals know what to do when they find historic artifacts or archeological elements.

  1. For questions, concerns, complaints, etc., the best resource in NC is to contact the Office of State Archaeology (OSA):
    1. Web: http://www.archaeology.ncdcr.gov
    2. Phone: (919) 733-7342
    3. E-mail: archaeology@ncmail.net
    4. Delores Hall is the state archaeologist that handles Orange County; she can be reached at (919) 807-6553 or dolores.hall@ncdcr.gov
  2. To report sites or for assistance and/or information:
    1. Fill out a NC archaeological site form, available online via the OSA website
    2. Contact the Orange County Department of Environment, Agriculture, Parks & Recreation (DEAPR): http://www.co.orange.nc.us/deapr/index.asp
    3. Contact the Research Laboratories of Archaeology at UNC (RLA): http://rla.unc.edu
    4. Contact the North Carolina Archaeological Society: http://www.rla.unc.edu/ncas or at (919) 807-6552 or rpsdavis@unc.edu
    5. Contact Wake Forest University Archeology Laboratories (Winston-Salem): 336-758-5117
    6. To report human remains or abandoned cemeteries or for questions regarding cemeteries, contact:
      i.      The North Carolina Cemetery Survey at http://www.archaeology.ncdcr.gov/ncarch/reporting/cemetery.htm
      ii.      http://www.archaeology.ncdcr.gov/ncarch/reporting/remains.htm
      iii.      Orange County Information Technologies/GIS,  Margaret Jones at mjones@co.orange.nc.us
      iv.      Milton Forsyth via the North Carolina Cemetery Census website: http://cemeterycensus.com/nc/orng/index.htm
      i.      Florida Museum of Natural History’s on-line type collections of historic period archaeological ceramics: http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/histarch/gallery_types
      ii.      Saint Mary’s University Archaeology Lab Ceramics Database: http://www.smu.ca/academic/arts/anthropology/ceramics/welcome.html
      iii.      http://www.thepotteries.org
      iv.      “Pottery & Porcelain Marks” by Gordon Lang, 2001
      v.      “Turners and Burners” by Terry Zug, 1986
      i.      The Bureau of Land Management/The Society for Historical Archaeology Historic Glass Bottle Identification & Information Website
      ii.      http://www.nps.gov/mwac/bottle_glass/index.html
      i.      http://members.shaw.ca/cstein0/heads.htm
      ii.      http://members.shaw.ca/cartridge-corner/shotgun.htm
      i.      Ivor Noël-Hume’s chart
      ii.      http://www.dawnmist.demon.co.uk/pipdex.htm
      i.      Lee H. Nelson, “Nail Chronology as an Aid to Dating Old Buildings.” Technical Leaflet 48. American Association for State and Local History, Nashville, 1968. http://www.uvm.edu/~histpres/203/nails.html
      ii.      http://www.digitalpresence.com/histarch/nails.html
    1. Contact the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP)
    2. To report or for questions regarding old road sites, contact the Trading Path Association (TPA) via their website: tradingpath.org
    3. Contact local historic or preservation associations or museums
  1. Artifact information:
    1. Pottery/ceramics:
    1. Bottles:
    1. Ammunition:
    1. Tobacco pipes:
    1. Window glass dating formula: Orser, Charles E. “A Mean Flat Glass Dating Method for the Southeastern Unites States”
    2. Nails:
    1. For further research and information on artifacts (particularly due to their potential collector value), the best way to find out answers is to try various search parameters via Google: http://www.google.com; there are numerous websites, blogs, forums, and chat rooms that will likely be of great assistance and have individuals that will be willing to assist you
  1. Some local Cultural Resource Management (CRM) firms who might be willing and able to assist you:
    1. TRC Garrow Associates, Inc. (Chapel Hill): (919) 530-8446
    2. Environmental Services, Inc. (Raleigh): (919) 212-1760
    3. Legacy Research (Durham): (919) 682-2408
    4. For a more complete list, see: http://www.archaeology.ncdcr.gov/ncarch/ncac/NCAC.pdf
  2. For further research and information on archaeological information (particularly artifacts, due to their potential collector value), the best way to find out answers is to try various search parameters via Google: http://www.google.com; there are numerous websites, blogs, forums, and chat rooms that will likely be of great assistance and have individuals that will be willing to assist you

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