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We are expected to follow that format in general terms because they have provided substantial funding for the project. The other purpose was to lay out some of the options and choices that lie ahead, working within the SHPO framework. Discussion followed about the front essay or historical narrative. There is a wide range of scope and depth of these in the various books we have looked at. Some have done an excellent job of including the pre- European story. Grant noted that this is most likely coming out of the growing interest in the relatively new concept of the study of the cultural landscape. This is really about how the landscape is used and settled by the various peoples. Archaeologists have been doing this for awhile and architectural historians are only just now catching up. White pointed out that the spring on the property where she lives was used by Indians and later by Europeans. We need to remember that the landscape was heavily shaped by native people, through clearing many fields and creating trading paths, long before the first settlers moved in. Golan noted that we need to explore ways to include artifacts /things in the ground. How do we broaden this to include archaeology in a meaningful way? It makes such a difference when you can show a map, a site drawing or plan, and the artifacts. A good example is the essay in the Greene Co. book, which includes a good presentation about the Tuscarora fort called Nehorooka. The Wake County book includes some very informative site plans showing the arrangements of the outbuildings. How do you go about handling the transition from the archaeological to historical approach? It is a complex story that is often presented in simplistic terms. There are the subtle issues of the philosophical points of view toward the land. The Christian ethic was to clear the forests and make the land fruitful, versus the native people's holistic relationship to the land. We should intersperse illustrations of original land grants and other historic documents that help convey the larger story. All agreed that visuals were key: maps, floor plans, good documents to illustrate /broaden the story. For example, John Lawson's drawings could be used. How do we help readers understand that wild buffalo roamed the landscape until the late 18th century, or the whole process of driving pigs up to Petersburg? Grant volunteered to help with maps or site plans. Steve Davis. Brett Riggs and the team at UNC have written a whole lot about the native Americans in Orange County; there should be something already written that we could get them to distill or edit for this effort, while giving them full credit as the author(s). Staff reviewed the discussion of the SHPO format. We have choices under each heading: Historical overview essay versus architectural: how can we integrate our rich historical story into an architectural discussion? The last history of the county was done in 1952 by Lefler, which is not bad but very old school. We should not attempt to create a new county history for this. We should be able to provide at least a historical framework for the reader, to link things. But we cannot go into every piece of history. Staff noted that the County had paid an architectural historian to write a history essay back in 1996 for the book effort. It is not a great work but lays down the basics. Staff will share with members. SHPO felt is was not complete or good enough to form the basis for the book, so it was never adopted. SHPO and our consultants agree that we can't take that and rework it. But it is very instructive to read it. For example, it helps make it clear that there is very little known about the earliest 18th century structures in the county, so that remains a challenge. There were French traders here long before the county was established, working through the Piedmont to VA. We need to understand that there is only so much depth we can include in this for topics that have not been researched before. Getting the native American story in a brief format will be critical. Grant suggested a theme of "settlement and subsistence" from prehistory to today. It all boils down to: what were people doing here? How were they eating /raising food? And what were their activities doing to the landscape? Architecture 2