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A survey for prehistoric and historic rock art in North Carolina is now underway in hopes of locating and recording these fragile archeological sites.  Rock art may come in the form of prehistoric petroglyphs, pictographs, cave mud glyphs, or historic carvings and paintings that are 75 years old or older.    

The project began in 1997 when Scott Ashcraft, US Forest Service Archaeologist and David Moore, PhD, Archaeology professor at Warren Wilson College began recording known rock art sites.  We are now a non-profit collaborative effort of archaeologists, historians, volunteers and students with the following participating partners:  The National Forest in North Carolina; Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indian Tribal Historic Preservation Office; Warren Wilson College; N.C. Office of State Archaeology; and The North Carolina Archaeological Society. 

We have increased our documented sites from 7 to over 50 - and still counting!  Word-of-mouth and publicizing the survey through small town newspapers and local television channels continues to be our best source for new finds. 

Unfortunately, time, weather, and humans threaten the integrity of these archaeological sites.  The majority of known petroglyphs and pictographs in North Carolina have been negatively impacted and many have been removed from their original location.  The goal of this rock art survey is to record as many as possible before they disappear to development, vandalism or natural forces.    

Some land owners have expressed fear or confiscation if they reveal the whereabouts of a rock art site.  There is no legal authority to place restrictions on private property or to confiscate or otherwise remove rock art or artifacts.  We simply want to record and document these important North Carolina archaeology sites.