ROANOKE TIMES

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, March 8, 1990                   TAG: 9003081955
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-12   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short


INTENSIVE WORK DONE FOR EXPLORE

REGARDING the Feb. 25 article, "Explore details raise gripes," I wish to elaborate on a statement pertaining to our work with the Explore Project.

The document Exhibit Technologies supplied to the project concerned the McCluer-Baker site in Botetourt County. The 200-page report alluded to in the article was, however, only a portion of an in-depth investigative process.

Like the work performed at a similar site by the Virginia Museum of American Frontier Culture, our study included archival research, archaeological digs and architectural evaluations. The information was in the form of 300 photographs, drawings of floor plans and elevations, a complete deed search, information relating to agricultural output, and an extensive artifact assemblage.

The $11,000 paid by Explore compensated one architectural historian, one researcher, two archaeologists and a supervisor. Exhibit Technologies was also responsible for supervising the dismantling and storage of the structures.

The concerns of the professional community are often trivialized and dismissed as purist by developers. However, it is our work - the work of archaeologists, researchers and architectural historians - that provides the foundation for historical fact. Even historical fiction must be based on historical fact to be believable. GARY WINKLER Project Coordinator Exhibit Technologies ROANOKE



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