GRP Archaeology Summer 2024

Story and Photos by Martha M. Wallace

My Archaeology investigations at Green River Preserve have been a gift that keeps on giving, and this year has been no exception! Each year more evidence has been found to help unlock the secrets of the ancient history of Western North Carolina. This summer there have been several new archaeological finds which include petroglyphs along the Bear Trail, a white quartzite tool found near Uncles Falls, and a new Turtle Drum discovered near the Bivouac Motel.

The new petroglyphs are on a series of large rock boulders near the Bear Trail, about ¾ mile south of previously studied petroglyphs on Long Rock. Mentors, Danny and Courtney, were exploring GRP and looking for more boulders to teach campers rock climbing and bouldering. They discovered several large boulders with a variety of petroglyphs etched into the rock surface. One of the petroglyphs is a very distinct and perfect circle, another is a fish. There are many squiggly lines, cupules, and semi circles. Future archaeological investigations will better determine the number of new petroglyphs and perhaps their meaning. What an amazing find! Great job Danny and Courtney!

The stone tool was found by a camper on a hike to Uncle’s Falls. It is a beautiful hand-held scraper made of white quartzite, sometimes referred to as sugar quartz. The tool fits perfectly in your hand and it’s easy to see and feel how useful this tool would have been. During session 2, Nancy Basket, a Native American storyteller and artist, happened to be at GRP for storytelling during an evening program. I showed her the tool and before she even had it in her hand she said, “Do you know what that is? It’s a bear fat scraper”. Yes, she was that specific. She then told me how Indigenous peoples would have collected and stored bear fat for use in cooking, tanning hides and even hair care. What an incredible artifact!

During session 3, I was hiking with some campers to see the Bivouac Motel, just a short 15-minute hike from base camp. I’ve been on that trail dozens of times. On that day I noticed a rock next to the trail that looked suspiciously like a Turtle Drum, but it was completely covered in moss and leaf litter. The campers and I removed some of the moss and leaves and sure enough: it looks like another Turtle Drum! Several other drums have been identified at Long Rock and Upper Bald. Turtle Drums are oval shaped rocks that have been elevated and altered by humans and are believed by many to be ancient drumming stones or rock gongs. Future archaeological studies will help us determine their purpose and use.

I’m currently working on a report for Green River Preserve to compile all the archaeological data that’s been collected in my 13 years as camp archaeologist. The report will include an ancient fire ring found 3 feet beneath the surface in a test unit in Cabinville, 2 rock quarry sites, several lithic production workshops, bivouacs and caves used for shelter, petroglyphs, pointer trees, Turtle Drums and so much more. The report should be completed this fall, and copies will be filed with the NC OSA (North Carolina Office of State Archaeology), SCIAA (South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology), Academia.edu and other organizations and institutions.

Material evidence of ancient peoples is everywhere at Green River Preserve and DuPont State Recreational Forest, all you have to do is look for it. Thank you to GRP staff and campers for discovering new evidence!

During Session 4, I’ll be collecting data on the new discoveries and completing other archaeology projects at GRP. I look forward to what future archaeological studies will reveal.

Stay Tuned. More to come.

And remember… Culture is everywhere.

Story and photos by Martha M. Wallace