Video: Industrial Park Project On Hold, Now What?

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STARKVILLE, Miss.(WCBI)–For right now on the 325 plus acre plot of land in Starkville where a section of it was supposed to be an Industrial Park Project is not happening, at least for right now.

After consulting with various cultural resource professionals, the $10 million project is on hold, possibly indefinitely.

A development project to be located on land north of Wal Mart near the Hwy 25 and Hwy 82 Intersection was expected to be the latest new spot for economic growth. But now that environmental studies have been done, there is a problem with a cultural assessment. 40 acres of the land belongs to Starkville resident Sandy Ramsey.

“My family owns part of the property that was going to be a piece of the part. And the due diligence did find some potential issues and the cost to remedy those issues was expensive. So the Link has been great and been very fair and careful,” said Sandy Ramsey/Starkville Landowner

Now that it has been determined that the site just could be a village once inhabited by Native Americans, land owned by Ramsey which extends beyond a tree line, may just be in his family a bit longer. Ramsey, not overly concerned seems to be taking the latest information in stride.

“No, its not surprising, most every ridge top around will have some artifacts or some left over from indians,” said Sandy Ramsey.

“Starkville happens to be an area with extremely high concentration of Native American remains. Its one of the most densely occupied area of the state at one time as a matter of fact,” said Evan Peacock/MSU Archeology Professor.

Peacock stopped short of identifying the specific ethnic group that may have populated the strip of land. But did confirm that artifacts, if taken from that site very well could be the resting place or hunting ground of the first Americans.

“So what particular tribe is represented when you find these remains in often extremely difficult to tell and in fact you know we are often reluctant to make that kind of an assignment. Because to some extent stone tools look like stone tools, pottery looks like pottery,” said Evan Peacock.

Before construction can proceed on such type of development project, the site must be whats called “shovel ready”. In light of the latest find, it looks like shovels will not be needed, at least not right here and now for the development project.

The Link has recommended to the city and county that all development with respect to the proposed location cease and desist.