Depiction of a palisaded village from 1100 A.D. Archaeologist Tasha Benyshek was unaware of the existence of such structures in this time period.

A significant historical discovery was made last week when archaeologists at the site of the proposed Macon County Airport runway extension discovered two palisaded villages, circa 1100 A.D.

“We had no idea there were palisaded villages in 1100 A.D.,” said Tasha Benyshek, senior archaeologist on the project with TRC Solutions.

Benyshek has been working at the site for several weeks, removing top soil and performing preliminary mapping of archaeological features. Her crew was hired to perform artifact removal and data recovery on a portion of the area slated for a runway extension.

The Macon County Airport is located in Iotla Valley on property that was once apparently home to several native peoples. Artifacts found on site date back as early as 2000 B.C., said Benyshek.

Two areas that were opened last week revealed features including post holes encircling structures.

The evidence suggests that vertical fences were used to fortify homesteads nearly one thousand years ago.

Benyshek called the discovery a rare find, citing few instances where such palisades were ever documented. “It’s a little known time period,” she said. “There are so many posts and features in that area.”

Most of what the archaeological crew has come across at the site dates to the Woodland Period, 500 A.D. Structures, storage and cooking pits have all been found.

Two palisaded villages date to 1100 A.D. complete with structures. The next period evidenced on the property is the Middle Qualla period, 1600-1750 A.D, with structures and pit features.

The crew will start systematically documenting structures and excavating pit features. “It is so dense,” said Benyshek, “it will take time. There’s quite a bit to do.”

The information gleaned will help scientists understand how people lived thousands of years ago. Benyshek said it will be interesting to learn if people lived in individual farmsteads, villages or compact villages during the different time periods.

The settlement patterns have been especially enlightening at the Iotla site, she said, providing vital clues about how villages were set up.

The two fortified villages, said Benyshek, were probably meant to keep people safe from something. “During some time periods, people felt the need to close themselves in,” said Benyshek.

Evidence can also provide clues to what people ate, what tools they used and what activities they participated in.

“It will be interesting to see what else evolves,” said Benyshek of the site.

The runway extension has been a source of controversy as some area residents have voiced concern over the historical and cultural significance of the site at county meetings.

Officials involved have stated that the extension will not only improve airport safety but may also help bring jobs to the area.

Cowee resident and Wild- South Cultural Heritage Director Lamar Marshall said that the new discovery substantiates the claims that the significance of the site was “glossed over” by agencies such as the State Historic Preservation Office, the Federal Aviation Administration and the Macon County Airport Authority.

“The airport expansion is a gross violation of taxpayer trust, a waste of taxpayer money for special interests, a slap in the face to the Cherokee Nation and their dead that are buried there, and a tragedy for the families and property owners of the Iotla Community,” said Marshall. “There appears to be a trail of special interests that could lead back to elite entities that will benefit from this ridiculous example of corporate welfare.”

Marshall has contacted an attorney on the grounds that violations have already occurred in regard to the extension and its preparations. Marshall said, “The people of Macon County and the Cherokee Nation will not be steamrolled without a fight.”

Airport Authority Meeting

Not much was on the agenda for the regular meeting of the Macon County Airport Authority on Tuesday, April 28 – mainly the election of officers to serve the next two years and an executive session to discuss contractual matters. Though the meetings have always been open to the public and always will be, until recently they were rarely attended by anyone other than authority members or the media. That has not been the case lately. Seven visitors showed up on Tuesday thinking they might have a question and answer session with the authority.

The authority did allow for a public comment period during a packed house at the last meeting, though some of the questions posed would have to be answered at a later time, said Chairman Milles Gregory. “The board is being as accommodating as it can by allowing this public discussion today,” Franklin Mayor Joe Collins said. Collins serves as a lawyer for the authority. “This isn’t a public hearing; we don’t have to do this. But realistically, it is always better to let the people be heard.”

At Tuesday’s meeting, four of the visitors signed up to speak during the public comment period and were given three minutes each to air their thoughts. Lucy Meadows Smarr had a few questions she wanted answered. “Specifically, I want to know what type of permanent jobs will be provided. In conversations, you’ve said the airport runway extension will bring in a lot of jobs. I want to know specifically,” she said.

Collins replied, “On behalf of the authority, this is a public comment session, it’s not a back and forth. You have the right to pose questions, but it’s not the job of the authority to provide feedback.

“Well, how can you get these answers?” Smarr asked.

Gregory told her, and the others wanting to speak, to submit the questions in writing to the authority secretary, Teresa McDowell, and he would provide an answer by mail.

Smarr also wanted to know about the petition against the runway extension. “I’d like to know how many are against the extension and who they are,” she said. She commented on the time of day the authority meetings are held, 4 p.m. “Most people are at work and can’t attend. How can we address changing the time of the meetings?”

“We’ll get an answer to you,” Gregory said.

Debby Boots addressed the authority next. Her comments concerned an article she read about the Department of Fish and Wildlife where they stated they had not been involved in discussions with the authority about the runway extension since 2002. Critical wildlife habitat is located downstream of the project and Boots wanted to know why Fish and Wildlife wasn’t involved.

“The board can speak if they like, but again, this is a public comment session. It’s designed for you all to give comments to the board, not a question and answer session,” Collins said.

Dolly Reed stepped up and asked about the 100 percent data recovery at the site. Gregory explained that they are not doing 100 percent recovery. On 3.5 acres, they are doing stripping, mapping, and identifying. She then asked what type of jets would be landing there and Gregory replied they would be the same types as are landing now.

Norm Roberts, a former authority member, gave a presentation on the instrument approach system and how important it is to the airport. Due to recent technological advances like GPS, the airport is now part of the Air Traffic Control System, and some flights can be monitored from Atlanta. He praised the authority members for all of the hard work they’ve been doing.

With more praise came Patricia Stoker. She lives on McCall Circle near the airstrip, she said. “I love the airport. When I first moved here people would tell me ‘Oh, be careful because they're going to expand the airport and there’s going to be all kinds of cargo and big casino jets coming in' and I said ‘Oh. Oh, good.’”

She said she was definitely for the expansion and is glad it’s finally happening. “I’d love to see this place become a tourist destination for private aircraft,” she said.

The authority then went on to business. They decided to send a draft budget to the Board of Commissioners totaling $47,000. This is the amount they received last year and kept the proposal at the same figure due to the economy. The budget is mostly for operating expenses, said Treasurer Pete Haithcock.

Milles Gregory was reelected as chairman, Harold Corbin as vice-chair, and Pete Haithcock as treasurer.