NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1973 SESSION

 

 

CHAPTER 596

HOUSE BILL 1045

 

 

AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A STATEWIDE ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROGRAM.

 

Whereas, beneath the surface of the soil of North Carolina lies evidence of thousands of years of the history of the land upon which peoples of many origins have developed a great State; and

Whereas, the State's archaeological heritage is fast disappearing as a result of public and private construction projects and land development; and

Whereas, the dedicated and pioneering efforts of a few archaeologists have never been given proper recognition or adequate support, and, consequently, in comparison with many sister states, North Carolina's total effort to preserve and salvage these precious resources has been fragmented and uncoordinated, there being no comprehensive, coordinated statewide program of scientific exploration and evaluation of archaeological resources, and there being no adequate antiquities legislation; and

Whereas, the avalanche of environmental statements and project reviews — now numbering approximately 100 per month — required for governmental and private construction projects has created an administrative crisis resulting from the absence of a statewide survey to identify archaeological resources in North Carolina; and

Whereas, it is urgent that a coordinated archaeological program, based upon professional principles and techniques and concerned with the history of all peoples, be pursued by the State with the cooperation and assistance of acknowledged specialists now available in the agencies, colleges, and universities of the State; and

Whereas, such a program should be conducted with proper respect for the human and sacred remains of all elements of our population; Now, therefore,

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

 

Section 1.  There is hereby appropriated from the General Fund to the Office of Archives and History, Department of Art, Culture and History, for the 1973-74 fiscal year the sum of sixty-four thousand three hundred twenty-seven dollars ($64,327) for the establishment and administration of a statewide archaeological program, which program shall include contractual agreements for the utilization of the services of appropriate professional archaeologists on the staffs and faculties of North Carolina colleges and universities.

Sec. 2.  For the purposes of reviewing existing statutes relating to archaeological resources, of making recommendations to the General Assembly concerning programs and statutes, and of advising the Department on the development of its archaeological program, there is hereby created an Archaeological Advisory Committee to be composed of the State Historian as chairman and the following members: one member of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate; one member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House; two members representing the American Indians of North Carolina, one appointed by the Tribal Council of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee, and one appointed by the Executive Director of the North Carolina State Commission of Indian Affairs; and one archaeologist appointed by the North Carolina Archaeological Advisory Council. Members of the committee shall serve without salary, but their actual expenses resulting from the performance of their official duties shall be reimbursed in accordance with State policy. Members shall be appointed for two‑year terms beginning July 1 of the odd-numbered years and shall serve until their successors are appointed and qualified. Initial appointments shall be made immediately upon ratification for terms to expire June 30, 1975.

Sec. 3.  This act shall become effective upon its ratification.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified, this the 18th day of May, 1973.