Hardaway Site, Archaeological research center in Stanly County, North Carolina, United States.
The Hardaway Site is an archaeological location in Stanly County that sits on a rocky ridge with two knolls separated by a saddle formation. The place contains distinct layers of deposited materials indicating continuous settlement spanning thousands of years.
Discovery occurred in 1937 and systematic excavations began in 1948, revealing layers of human occupation spanning thousands of years. These investigations established dating methods that researchers still use to understand settlement patterns across eastern North America.
The site contains four distinct layers of materials showing human occupation patterns, including stone-lined hearths and extensive tool creation evidence from ancient settlements.
Most excavated materials are held in university museum collections, so visiting focuses on viewing the landscape topography and archaeological context. No visitor facilities or special preparations are typically needed to walk the terrain and observe the ridge formation.
Researchers extracted approximately seven metric tons of cultural materials from this location, which helped establish dating systems for other archaeological findings across the region. The quantity and variety of artifacts provided unexpected insights into long-term settlement patterns in eastern North America.
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