08.21.97
 
Shannon,
 
I can offer comparative information on archaeology as conducted by the North
Carolina Department of Transportation.
 
As a former archaeologist for the NCDOT in Raleigh, I can tell you that there
were seven of us (including the Archaeology Section Supervisor) in house who
conducted small Phase I projects (mainly bridge replacements and road
widening surveys), and occassionally a Phase II testing.  There have been few
occassions over the years when several of us did Phase III/data recovery
excavations, mainly when scheduling was a problem.  Almost all of the larger
Phase I and II surveys and Phase III/data recovery excavations were
contracted out.
 
The level of academic education at the NCDOT was a follows: three had
batchelors in Anthropology and/or History, three had M.A.s in Anthropology,
and one was A.B.D.  Based on my two years of employment there, I had the
opportunity to observe first hand that archaeological knowledge and
experience don't always equate with advanced degrees.  What good is an
advanced degree if you can't recognize things in the ground, or more
importantly, purposefully don't look for them?
 
While DOT Archaeologists share the burden of balancing development with
cultural resources, often in the "cultural non-friendly environment" of a
DOT, many important sites in North Carolina have been located, recorded, and
excavated as a result of DOT surveys.  One prime example is the Eden House
Site, recorded as part of NCDOT Archaeologist Kenneth Robinson's survey for
the widening of US 17 in Bertie and Chowan Counties.  The site yielded many
17th and 18th century artifacts during the initial survey.  When sent to data
recovery, a complex of structures dating to possibly as early as the 1670s
were revealed and documented.  This site is one of the earlier historic
period sites ever recorded and excavated in North Carolina.
 
So don't judge DOTs too harshly for their archaeology.  As with many places,
it's not often the program, but rather select archaeologists within the
program, that need improvement.
 
Cheers,
 
Thomas Beaman, Jr.
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