Highway to history - an archaeological dig reveals Oklahoma’s past while securing a $500 million expressway’s future

Archaeological Mitigation at the Berryhill Creek Site

When workers found possible artifacts while building the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority’s (OTA) Gilcrease Expressway extension, their project team halted work and called for an archaeological investigation. This proved challenging. The OTA needed to finish their highway on schedule—work stoppage for this discovery could have cost them millions of dollars in late fees. At the same time, project success hinged on serving the community’s inhabitants, past and present.

The archaeology team worked extended hours, six days a week to address these challenges without delaying the expressway extension. Setting up a field lab to provide daily updates on this high-profile effort, the field team conducted data recovery excavations, rapidly deploying various excavation and sampling strategies for different areas throughout the site. They found tools, ceramic pottery, and other relics of the past—analyses showed that the site was mainly occupied 1,000 to 3,200 years ago, during the Woodland Period.

Few excavations have taken place in this part of Oklahoma, just outside of downtown Tulsa. This mitigation project helped uncover archaeological and natural features, expanding knowledge of the region’s past. Additionally, the work allowed the highway project to open as planned.

Work completed as Cox|McLain Environmental Consulting, Inc. (pre-asset purchase) included data recovery excavations, coordination with Tribal monitors, and monitoring backfilling of the area. The work also included the start of lab studies, beginning in November 2021. Stantec continued lab studies beginning January 1, 2022, and submitted the draft report for approval in March 2023.