Archaeological survey at Woodford site finds small locus of Native American flakes; no further work recommended

Jay Waller, senior archaeologist with the Public Archaeology Laboratory, told the committee that a Phase 1 site identification survey was completed across the Woodford Middle School construction footprint.

Waller said the team dug 46 test pits (50 by 50 centimeters) distributed across the impact area. Most of the site had been previously disturbed by earlier school construction and athletic field work. Where intact remnant soils were found, the consultant recovered nineteenth‑ and twentieth‑century agricultural artifacts — glass, pottery sherds and machine‑cut nails. Waller reported one very small locus, no more than about 10 feet in diameter, with a handful of stone flakes indicative of Native American tool manufacture.

In Waller’s professional opinion, the small number and limited context of the materials do not meet federal or state eligibility criteria for listing on the National Register or state register, and the team did not recommend additional archaeological work. The consultant has submitted a draft report to the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission (the State Historic Preservation Office) and to Perkins Eastman and the town for review; the state technically has 30 days to comment, and Waller said the state’s comments are expected soon.

Waller also noted tribal consultation: as a permit condition they notified the Narragansett Tribal Historic Preservation Office and tribal members joined portions of the fieldwork; the tribe will work directly with the State Historic Preservation Office on any concerns. He cautioned that detailed archaeological site maps are exempt from the Rhode Island FOIA process and recommended redacting specific map pages before public release; the team will finalize a public version of the report after state review and any edits.

The committee had no further questions and asked that the final report (redacted as appropriate) be posted on the project website once the state review is complete.