The state of Washington won't restart work at a drydock where a major village of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe was uncovered.

State Transportation Secretary Doug MacDonald spoke at a community meeting called to address the controversy. Some local officials in the Port Angeles area want the construction to resume.

The tribe opposes work at the 1,700-year-old Tse-whit-zen village. More than 300 ancestors and thousands of artifacts have been located there. Archaeologists say it is one of the most important finds in the Pacific Northwest.

More than 200 people attended the meeting, The Peninsula Daily News reported. The crowd was split equally between tribal supporters and those who want the work to continue, the paper said.

Get the Story:
200 from all sides in graving yard controversy pack banquet room to hear from Transportation Commission (The Peninsula Daily News 2/15)
Transportation official says state won't resume Port Angeles drydock work (AP 2/15)
pwpwd
State Won't Resume Port Angeles Drydock Work (KOMO News 2/14)
Lower Elwha go to DOT meeting in Port Angeles today with support from Northwest tribes (The Peninsula Daily News 2/14)
DOT considering Port Angeles for Hood Canal Bridge concrete anchors (The Peninsula Daily News 2/15)

Relevant Links:
Tse-Whit-Zen Village News - http://tse-whit-zen.elwha.nsn.us
Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe - http://www.elwha.org

Related Stories:
Meeting called over graving yard controversy (2/10)
Column: Halting work at tribal village was right thing (02/09)
Washington tribe returns money after local threat (02/01)
Washington tribe backs probe into work at village (1/31)
Washington tribe still affected by excavation of village (1/27)
Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe tells panel of racism (01/20)
Healing ceremony held at Klallam village (1/17)
Talks continue over future of Klallam village (1/11)
Top official set to abandon work at Klallam village (12/17)
Washington officials won't oppose tribe on village (12/16)
Meeting scheduled on future of Klallam tribal village (12/14)
Editorial: Work at Klallam tribal village should stop (12/14)
Washington tribe wants construction stopped (12/13)
Editorial: Let tribe complete work on village (12/03)
Washington tribe to discuss future of village (11/29)
Construction at tribal burial site still in dispute (11/18)
Washington tribe wants work stopped at bridge site (10/08)
Discovery of village strains Washington tribe (07/28)
Klallam village in Washington larger than expected (7/23)
Klallam village in Washington called significant find (07/14)
Washington tribe helping with removal of remains (04/20)
State to pay for reburial of Klallam ancestors (04/13)
Wash. tribe to sign agreement for reburial of ancestors (03/16)
Tribal remains used as landfill at mill site (11/07)
Wash. negotiating with tribe on handling of remains (10/15)
State, tribe mum on discovery of remains at worksite (09/12)