In 2021, ancient spear points, hammer stones, and picks were unearthed by a bulldozer fighting a wildfire in western North Carolina, shedding light on early human history in the Appalachian Mountains. Scott Ashcraft, a U.S. Forest Service archaeologist, had long warned forest managers about the presence of hidden artifacts on steep terrain, urging them to reconsider outdated modeling when planning projects on national forest lands.
Ashcraft's concerns were detailed in a letter sent to top officials, highlighting a pattern of illegal behavior by forest managers in North Carolina. Allegations of retaliation against Ashcraft surfaced as he faced reassignments and communication restrictions.
