Prior to workers in North Carolina clearing out land for the Triangle Expressway, archaeologists investigated the site to see if there were any signs that the original inhabitants of the state once occupied the area and what they found was pretty exciting.
In an interview with
ABC11, Matt Wilkerson, who is the head of the archaeology unit with the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), described what they found, “As a result of the survey for this entire corridor, we identified, I believe, it’s over 155 sites.” These sites were located in the southeastern part of Wake County below the town of Garner and close to Williams Crossroads.
By Sarah Tate
Jan 15, 2021
Archeologists found a host of ancient artifacts while preparing to clear land for the Interstate 540 project in Raleigh, including jewelry that dates back about 10,000 years.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation sent its archeology unit to the area to search for any artifacts that may remain ahead of the last expansion of the Triangle Expressway. Unit leader
Matt Wilkerson was surprised to find more than 155 sites with the ancient items.
The unit collaborated with other archeologists to search for artifacts and document the work, including
Susan Bamann with Commonwealth Heritage Group. Bamann said a piece of personal adornment was one of the group s most exciting finds, with the broken and previously polished stone about 10,000 years old.
The scientists found something significant. As a result of the survey for this entire corridor, we identified, I believe, it s over 155 sites, said Matt Wilkerson who heads up the NCDOT s archeology unit.
Anytime NCDOT plans to build a road, federal law requires that it documents historic or even prehistoric sites in the construction corridor. NCDOT takes its stewardship responsibility very seriously, Wilkerson told ABC11.
He said that is why NCDOT formed the archeology unit more than 30 years ago, deciding it would be the most efficient way to handle that responsibility.
In the case of the Triangle Expressway, which will complete the 540 outer loop around Raleigh, most of the sites that archeologists found were not in the direct path of the asphalt.