The Research Laboratories of Archaeology at UNC infographic. 80 years of archaeological research conducted in North Carolina. Over 200 projects. In the last 35 years, over 550 students have participated in field projects and over 28 undergraduates have worked in the labs. The North Carolina Archaeological Collection contains 8 million artifacts spanning 15,000 years of human history in North Carolina and the American South from over 8,000 archaeology sites, 99 North carolina counties, and 38 states. Visual of an old piece of bone, sharpened to a point. Turkey bone awl: from the Hairston site in Stokes County, NC. Native peoples used awls for many tasks, from piercing hides and textiles to construct garments, to weaving basketry and making nets. Cultural affiliation: Saratown phase, AD 1500–1600. Visual of beads on a string in a small swirl-circle. Animal bone bead: from the Sharp site in Rockingham County, NC. Beads conveyed information about one’s family status and group affiliation. They were worn in ways similar to today—as necklaces, bracelets, and clothing embellishments. Cultural affiliation: Dan River phase, AD 1200–1400. Visual of a blue and white beaded necklace. Glass trade beads: from the Madison site in Rockingham County, NC. Glass beads manufactured in Italy and the Netherlands were an early items gifted to Native peoples by European explorers when they arrived in the Americas. Beads soon became a sought-after good acquired through trade in deerskins, furs, and other local products. Cultural affiliation: Saratown phase, AD 1600–1700. Visual of a gray rock, sharpened to a point with a small notch shaved out of it. Clovis projectile point: from the Wall site in Orange County, NC. Early hunters attached this fluted point to a wooden spear and launched it at large game to secure food and raw materials for their families. Cultural affiliation: Early Paleoindian, 10,000–9000 BC. Visual of a round, white bead, with an ornate design etched into it. Shell gorget: from the Hairston site in Stokes County, NC. Pendants carved from Busycon whelk shells and decorated with symbolic images, such as this rattlesnake design, were worn by leaders and high-ranking officials throughout the Southeast. Cultural affiliation: Saratown phase, AD 1500–1600. Visual of a discolored, metal spoon. Metal spoon: from the Upper Saratown site in Stokes County, NC. By the seventeenth century, this spoon was one of many European- manufactured items acquired through trade by Native peoples. Cultural affiliation: Saratown phase, AD 1600–1700. Field and lab support has been provided for 25 PhD dissertations (1970-2018) and 68 MA theses (1951-2018). Visual of one hand holding an old, clay pot, while the other hand measures it. Clay pot: from Henry County, VA. Ancient North Carolinians f irst started to make ceramic containers about 3,000 years ago. Pottery production was an important technological innovation that changed Native cuisine, cooking traditions, and food storage methods. Cultural affiliation: Saratown phase, AD 1500–1600. To learn more about the Research Laboratories of Archaeology at UNC, visit archaeology.sites.unc.edu/rla.