The June 2024 law changes  (HB385, sec11)   that limit the protections of cemeteries - lost, abandoned, culturally and historically significant - have been discussed and updated previously on our blog - here . There has been a hopeful turn of events. Unfortunately, it is not the full restoration of oversight powers to the Office of State Archaelogy. This new proactive measure comes from outside the legislature. The N.C. Department of Transportation will team with N.C. State University Institute for Transportation Research and Education to begin research on mapping unmarked burial sites belonging to historically marginalized groups. This positive step forward is a pilot project beginning in Edgecombe County. The project goal is to  identify and map Indigenous burial sites, graves of formerly enslaved individuals, and historic African American cemeteries within the county. The pilot runs through the summer of 2026 and may expand after that.  This effort gives me hope t...

Updates on HB383 sec 11: The bill was passed on June 26 with the language that places old abandoned family cemeteries as well as historic archealogical relics at possibly more risk than before. The following language of HB385 Section 11 is taken directly form the Legislative Reporting Service at UNC School of Government.   The wording below is the version that passed. The concerning portions are highlighted in yellow as restrictions to the OSA  that did not exist previously. Part XI Removes all of former Part XI (amending various statutes related to coastal development) and replaces it with the following new content. Section 11 Adds new GS 113A-113.1 (requiring the Office of State Archeology [OSA] to provide information to owners and prospective purchasers in areas of environmental concern). Requires OSA to, upon request of an owner or prospective purchaser of land located in an area of environmental concern, to provide the owner or prospective purchaser with information as to...