THE BAUCOM HARDAWAY SITE:

A Stratified Deposit In Union County, North Carolina

RODNEY M. PECK AND FLOYD PAINTER

ABSTRACT

This report covers a stratified multi-component Indian site in which recovered artifacts date from the Paleo-Indian, Archaic and Woodland Periods. A portion of the site was excavated by members of the Piedmont Archaeological Society of North and South Carolina during the years 1979-1982. This preliminary report covers site location, projectile point types, tools, preforms, site history and Carbon 14 dates. It is our hope that further work can be done on the site by professionals better equipped with funds, time and technology. A large portion of the site has been set aside for such future excavations and studies.

INTRODUCTION

The Baucom Hardaway Site was discovered by Heath W. Baucom of Oakboro, North Carolina in the month of August 1979. Prior to the discovery, Vaughn Baucom (Heath Baucom’s cousin), had purchased a tract of land along the Rocky River in Union County, North Carolina and while removing fill dirt from an old road bed had inadvertently uncovered a stratum containing aboriginal artifacts. Sometime thereafter, while surface searching his cousin’s newly acquired land for Indian remains, Heath Baucom discovered the occupational debris recently uncovered by fill dirt removal. Excited by this discovery, Heath and his son Kenneth, proceeded to excavate a test pit into the disturbed area and uncovered, among other artifacts, a Hardaway Side-Notched projectile point. Aware that this could be a very important stratified site he invited another knowledgeable person Charles McCarn, of Kannapolis, North Carolina to inspect the site. McCarn advised that the site should be scientifically excavated using all the latest technology available, and that it should be done soon, for the site was threatened by further removal of fill dirt. Heath Baucom fully agreed.

After numerous letters and telephone calls failed to secure professional help, they were forced to fall back on their own resources. They appealed to the Piedmont Archaeological Society of North and South Carolina for help and several members of the group volunteered to excavate the threatened portion of the site. During the several months that followed, their work revealed a stratified sequence of projectile point types, pottery, preforms, tools etc. of the Woodland, Archaic and Paleo-Indian Periods. Also uncovered were fire hearths in the Palmer, Hardaway and Hardaway Dalton levels. A wealth of untouched archaeological material still remains in unexcavated portions of the site and the owner, Vaughn Baucom, has agreed not to remove the unexcavated areas and to retain them for future studies.

A stratified site of this magnitude deserves the most thorough analysis and study that modern scientific technology can offer, and it is hoped that an archaeologist, from an institution equipped with all the latest technological processes

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