Through their efforts to interpret Track Rock Gap, Wettstaed and Cohen improved the protection and understanding of one of the best known rock art sites in the southeastern U.S. The national award was presented during a recent meeting at the Forest Supervisor's Office in Gainesville.
Tucked away in the gap between Thunderstruck Mountain and Buzzard Roost Ridge, history is written in stone. Track Rock Gap is the location of a series of rock carvings, or petroglyphs, made by Native Americans in Union County on soapstone boulders.
The "Windows on the Past" award recognizes individuals who have raised awareness "of the importance of protecting and improving cultural resources through presentations, involvement, interpretation and publications." The Track Rock Gap project was evaluated by a joint jury consisting of representatives from the Forest Service, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) and the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP). The Track Rock Gap project was one of nine projects across the nation recognized with the award.
The Track Rock Gap site has long been known to the public and to researchers, but it had not been well documented or interpreted until recently. In the past, the large soapstone boulders with carved petroglyphs at Track Rock Gap were only barely visible, having been covered with protective metal grates since the 1960s. Wettstaed, who manages the forest's heritage program, and Cohen, the forest's interpretive specialist, worked with landscape architect and fellow award recipient Alison Koopman to change all that. Through a combination of contracting, volunteer efforts, and new approaches to interpretation and education, the trio revitalized the site that today offers visitors the ability to view and learn about this fascinating place and the Native Americans who created it.
"The Track Rock Gap rehab project was long overdue, and it added real value to the site and to the experience of people who visit it," said Cohen. "I always learn a lot when I work with James and Alison because they bring so much knowledge and skill to their projects."
Among their many efforts, the metal grates were removed and a new interpretive display was created with information about the history and meaning of the site. To facilitate its protection, volunteer site stewards were recruited through the Passport in Time Program to monitor the site on a regular basis to find out if the removal of the grates and increased visibility would lead to more vandalism. For the first time ever, detailed recording was conducted at the site and all interpretation was based on this research, which also resulted in a published report and presentations at professional meetings. A wealth of information about the site was added to the national forests' web site. All aspects of the work were closely coordinated with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to ensure that the interpretation and information presented was sensitive to Native American concerns.
"The Forest Service protects more than just trees," said George Bain, Forest Supervisor of the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forests. "Part of our mission includes protecting cultural resources within the national forest, such as the Track Rock Gap site, for this and future Americans. We're proud of the work at Track Rock, and honored to have the award winning work of Mitch, James and Alison on this forest."
Visit the Track Rock Gap webpage for more information about the site at www.fs.usda.gov/goto/conf/trackrock.
This photo shows an example of the petroglyphs on the boulders at Track Rock Gap. (Photo courtesy USFS)
http://accesswdun.com/article/2012/4/248003