PORT ANGELES — Lower Elwha Klallam tribal officials say they are still waiting for a contract to be signed between the state and the archaeologist in charge at the graving yard to begin full-scale recovery of human remains and artifacts.
“We were notified late Friday that the contract has not been signed yet,” said Frances G. Charles, Lower Elwha Klallam Tribal Council secretary/treasurer.
Charles also oversees archaeological work at the graving yard for the tribe.
State Department of Transportation officials said they anticipated the contract would be signed Friday.
After the signing, four months of archaeological excavation estimated to cost $4.5 million will begin.
‘The contract should be signed today,” Lloyd D. Brown, Transportation’s communication manager for the Olympic region said late Friday afternoon.
“We want to get everything in place as soon as possible to move forward and are working to do that.”
Brown said he would not have additional information about the contract signing until Monday because of Easter weekend.