Spear points, hammer stones, and other ancient tools buried beneath layers of leaves and rocks were the items Scott Ashcraft sought to uncover.
These historic artifacts were accidentally discovered in 2021 when a bulldozer was engaged in firefighting along a steep slope in western North Carolina.
As a dedicated archaeologist with the U.S. Forest Service, Ashcraft understood that these mountainous wooded landscapes could provide substantial insights into early human history in the Appalachian region.
For years, Ashcraft attempted to alert forest management to the critical need for updated modeling techniques that consider the presence of artifacts potentially hidden in steep terrains, notably at locations valuable to Native American tribes.
However, Ashcraft claims these efforts were met with retaliation from managers who proceeded with their initiatives, often breaching historic preservation and environmental laws by neglecting consultations with tribal representatives, limiting the input of state archaeologists, and actively suppressing scientific data.
In a recent communication directed at high-ranking officials in the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Interior Department, White House Council on Native American Affairs, and other organizations, Ashcraft detailed a concerning pattern of illegal and unethical conduct by forest supervisors in North Carolina.
He emphasized that this behavior starkly contrasts with the important steps taken by the Biden administration to incorporate Indigenous knowledge in land management decisions at the federal level.
Despite the situation being focused on a single state, Ashcraft argues it exposes a broader issue — a lack of safeguards preventing the Forest Service from relying on outdated models and neglecting to consult tribes before initiating projects.
Ashcraft stated, “It seems that achieving project completion and obtaining positive performance evaluations have taken precedence over the protection of cultural resources.”
This letter marks the latest development in an ongoing federal whistleblower case initiated by Ashcraft after he filed a comprehensive disclosure with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s inspector general in 2023.
Though the case was redirected back to the Forest Service, regional officials maintained that legal requirements had been upheld.
The disclosure attracted attention from preservation experts and researchers, especially as Ashcraft faced increased hostility from forest managers in his role as the heritage resources program manager for Pisgah National Forest.
Documents and emails indicate that many of his responsibilities were reassigned, and restrictions were placed on his communication with tribes.
In response to allegations of retaliation, regional forest officials have not provided direct answers, but they have reiterated their commitment to collaborating with the dozen tribes that have historical connections to the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests.
On a national scale, the Biden administration has sought to recognize the ties Native Americans have to their traditional lands through the release of action plans and guidelines concerning sacred sites.
A memo issued by President Biden in 2022 aimed to establish baseline standards for how federal agencies should conduct consultations with tribal representatives.
Reflecting on the situation in North Carolina, Valerie Grussing, executive director of the National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers, pointed out that the system designed to ensure adherence to consultation obligations seems to have faltered.
“What has transpired at both the forest and regional levels is unacceptable,” she remarked. “It not only breaches the federal trust responsibility but also damages established relationships.”
James Melonas, who oversees the four forests in North Carolina, mentioned that an independent group was assembled last year to examine various projects for compliance with federal laws and tribal consultation requirements following an internal alert.
The review suggested that more training regarding the National Historic Preservation Act was necessary, along with a thorough evaluation of the forest’s heritage program.
Melonas stated that a comprehensive internal review had been completed in May, affirming that the required obligations were met.
“Valuing this rich tribal heritage while collaborating with tribal nations in stewardship of these lands is a key priority for the Forest Service,” he added.
Nonetheless, certain tribal representatives argue that the Forest Service failed to engage with them during the review process.
Ashcraft’s legal team has aligned with Whistleblower Aid, a nonprofit organization, asserting that he has risked his career to expose what they refer to as the “deliberate destruction of Native American heritage sites.”
Andrew Bakaj, the chief legal officer for Whistleblower Aid, criticized the lack of interviews with crucial stakeholders who are aware of the violations during the agency’s review, and he noted that the results were not made publicly accessible.
This isn’t the first instance where the Forest Service has been accused of disregarding established procedures.
Documents from 2016 revealed that segments of the Trail of Tears were inadvertently damaged in Eastern Tennessee when an employee sanctioned the construction of unauthorized berms and trenches.
An apology was later issued to the Cherokee Nation and several other tribes by the Forest Service.
Over his 31 years of surveying vast forest areas, Ashcraft has stated that without more examination of steep landscapes, the full extent of the damage inflicted in western North Carolina — stemming from reliance on outdated models — remains unclear.
The whistleblower disclosure outlines instances where forest managers allegedly attempted to hinder further archaeological research in steep areas.
There are also claims that recreational trail projects, including an expansive multi-million dollar initiative to enhance hiking and biking paths near Asheville, have been constructed atop some sites, and prescribed burns have been conducted without adequate assessments or tribal consultation.
Ashcraft warned, “These actions are irreparably harming or destroying countless Native American cultural and archaeological sites of great importance. This behavior is ongoing.”
His objective is not to halt operations on forest land but to ensure that sites are documented prior to any modifications or to redirect work to safeguard more sensitive areas.
The Center for the Investigation of Native and Ancient Quarries has collaborated with Ashcraft and other researchers to identify numerous sites, revealing a surprising density of Native American cultural materials and remnants of land use spanning thousands of years.
Within the aftermath of the Seniard Creek Fire, located south of Asheville, tools such as stone axes were discovered, illustrating the advanced engineering of societies that inhabited the region around 6,000 years ago.
Philip LaPorta, the executive director of the center and an accomplished senior research scientist, emphasized that such findings should alter perceptions of Indigenous peoples’ utilization of steep terrains.
The information from the whistleblower disclosure was shared with numerous tribal nations, including the Cherokee Nation, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the Catawba Indian Nation, the Muscogee Nation, and the United Keetoowah Band.
The Eastern Band of Cherokee had hoped for more substantial and frequent consultations with forest management following the adoption of a revised plan in 2023 for the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests, but a tribal specialist indicated that little progress has been made.
In his letter, Ashcraft asserted that the identification and safeguarding of Native American heritage sites transcend the responsibilities of any single agency, tribe, or whistleblower.
He concluded, “This issue extends to us all. Protection of these invaluable resources is a collective responsibility shared by state and federal governments, sovereign tribes, and civil society. When one entity fails — especially in a catastrophic and misguided manner — it is the obligation of others to intervene.”
Grussing highlighted that for Native Americans, the significance of heritage extends beyond just artifacts scattered in particular locations.
“What’s truly at stake is an intangible connection to a place,” she noted. “These cultural resources and locations are irreplaceable; they are nonrenewable.”
