The Upper New Archaeological Project: Uncovering Deep Histories of Appalachian Resilience

On September 27, 2024, the floodwaters of Hurricane Helene transformed the landscape of the New River headwaters in northwestern North Carolina, as well as the lives of many of the people who call it home. Although the disaster was unprecedented in living memory, the archaeological record of the watershed attests to millennia of complex human interactions with the environment, including different responses to climate change. The Upper New Archaeological Project (UNAP) explores this deep history through analyses of legacy collections and geospatial data and targeted fieldwork at Native American sites in Watauga and Ashe Counties. In this talk, Dr. Alice Wright, Associate Professor of Anthropology at Appalachian State University, will discuss some of UNAP's preliminary findings and future plans, highlighting patterns of continuity and resilience among the diverse Appalachian communities who have lived along the Upper New River over the last 10,000 years. Admission is free.

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