King County employs archaeologists, historians, and preservation planners to ensure that work on County land doesn’t violate federal, state, or local laws and regulations related to archaeology, the historical built environment, and traditional cultural places.
Archaeologist Brandy Rinck, who works in the Cultural Resources Program at Parks, reviews projects and helps carry out any needed cultural resources management for Parks’ Operations. She meets with Parks staff, professionals in the Historic Preservation Program, Tribal representatives, and with any funding or permitting agencies to review proposed projects before any dig or disturbance of the land can occur in the County’s parks, on trails, or in natural open spaces.
Brandy plans field investigations based on background context information she collects from these groups and other sources. Then she goes into the field to conduct sub-surface surveys looking for artifacts or other archaeological deposits ahead of project work. Cultural resources that might be found in Parks include:
- historical buildings
- structures in ruin
- concentrations of metal, glass, and ceramics
- constructed features
- stone and bone artifacts
- other faunal remains
- wood, charcoal, plants, seeds, or pollen left behind by past human activity
If cultural resources are identified during a survey or a project, then Brandy helps evaluate the discovery. She works with the Historic Preservation Program, the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, and other consulting parties, to decide next steps. Brandy helps Parks make informed and responsible decisions about maintenance while working to preserve evidence of our collective cultural history.
You can meet Brandy Rinck, at International Archaeology Day at the Burke Museum from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 22. Brandy will be on hand to share information on how and why public agencies work with archaeologists. Families will be able to see items discovered in King County Parks. Brandy can also identify archaeological items brought to the event by museum visitors. Ask Brandy about her specialty: Geoarchaeology!
feature photo: International Archaeology Day at the Burke Museum, 2021 (Rachel Ormiston/Burke Museum)