As used in this Article:

(1) “State Archaeologist” means the head of the Office of State Archaeology section of the Office of Archives and History, Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

(2) “Executive Director” means the Executive Director of the North Carolina Commission of Indian Affairs.

(3) “Human skeletal remains” or “remains” means any part of the body of a deceased human being in any stage of decomposition.

(4) “Professional archaeologist” means a person having (i) a postgraduate degree in archaeology, anthropology, history, or another related field with a specialization in archaeology, (ii) a minimum of one year’s experience in conducting basic archaeological field research, including the excavation and removal of human skeletal remains, and (iii) designed and executed an archaeological study and presented the written results and interpretations of such study.

(5) “Skeletal analyst” means any person having (i) a postgraduate degree in a field involving the study of the human skeleton such as skeletal biology, forensic osteology or other relevant aspects of physical anthropology or medicine, (ii) a minimum of one year’s experience in conducting laboratory reconstruction and analysis of skeletal remains, including the differentiation of the physical characteristics denoting cultural or biological affinity, and (iii) designed and executed a skeletal analysis, and presented the written results and interpretations of such analysis.

(6) “Unmarked human burial” means any interment of human skeletal remains for which there exists no grave marker or any other historical documentation providing information as to the identity of the deceased. (1981, c. 853, s. 2; 2002-159, s. 35(a); 2007-484, s. 10(a); 2015-241, s. 14.30(s).)