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c~~ ERCD Advisory Boards and Staff Revisions to NCSE Attachment #6 1 a grid system), field reconnaissance, and a reporting of the results. 2 Information from these surveys can be used to assist in the siting 3 of future facilities and/or for identifying areas of historic and 4 cultural interest for possible interpretation. 5 6 In addition to archaeological surveys conducted in advance of new 7 County development projects, local residents can also ensure the 8 documentation and preservation of valuable historic and 9 prehistoric archaeological resources. The value of an artifact is in 10 its context (original location), its relationship with other artifacts, 11 its structural elements, or its relationship to natural features. Once 12 removed from their context many artifacts lose their value.3 13 Residents are encouraged to use the Office of State Archaeology 14 (OSA) to determine the appropriate course of action regarding 15 archaeological finds, particularly those that may involve old 16 cemetery sites. The OSA can help residents record, map, and 17 catalog sites, thus preserving valuable locations information on the 18 future. 19 HISTORIC CEMETERIES 20 Historic cemeteries offer an invaluable link to the past. Often, 21 smaller family cemeteries are subject to abandonment and neglect 22 over time, resulting in the loss of valuable genealogical and 23 historical information. Increasing development in the region 24 further jeopardizes these cultural resources. The OSA can provide 25 information on the State Cemetery Survey and the state statutes 26 (N.C.G.S. Chapter 70, Article 3), regarding the handling of human 27 skeletal remains.4 28 SCENIC RESOURCES 29 During the late 1980s to mid 1990s, Orange County Planning staff, 30 working in conjunction with the Planning Board's Transportation 31 Advisory Subcommittee (TAS), researched scenic road programs in 32 other states and localities, and developed a proposal for Orange 33 County. The Scenic, Rustic, and Rural Roads Program separated 34 potential corridors into three categories based on the focus of their 35 designation-natural features, historic or cultural resources, or 36 rural or agricultural context. The group systematically ranked 37 roads based on criteria and produced a Scenic Road Corridors Map, 38 which included segments from fifty (50) local roads. (See Map 6-6: 39 Scenic Roads Map.) While, the initial proposal was voluntary, the 40 map was included in the Land Use Element of the Comprehensive s Archaeological research in the late 1970s and early 1980s led to the creation of an "Archaeological Potential Map," which reflected the likelihood of finding resources based on topographic features such as ridges and drainageways. The map lacks the precision to replace site specific-fieldwork for predicting the location of archaeological resources and should only be used as a general guide. " ERCD works with the Durham-Orange Genealogical Society of North Carolina (D-OGS) to inventory cemeteries in Orange County; information on their cemetery census is available online. 4E~a:vu~eiCc~~y Cv-~vt~ire~.~,v~-i~~e~t~7~w Public Hearing Draft 5-6-08 Page 6- 45