Day 1

Our first day in the field was very successful! Over 20 students from Lewisburg Elementary in Lewisburg, WV visited with us and received their first hands-on experience in archaeology. The archaeology team, with the help of 15 volunteers from as far away as Texas, began the excavation with some interesting finds. In this picture is today's team and what they found.


Professional archaeologists Kim McBride, Steve McBride, Kurt Rademaker, W. Hunter Lesser, and David McBride lead the volunteer and students through the beginning steps of the excavation. After the layer of soil is carefully removed, the team begins the process of gently sifting the soil through fine screens, removing large rocks and looking for artifacts hidden in the soil. Kurt Rademaker explains the process to students from Pat Hanson's 4th grade class.

Artifacts found today includes the following: small caliber cast lead shot (top left in photo) redware sherd (top right), hand wrought nails (bottom left and center), and the stub of a clay tobacco pipe (bottom right). The lead shot was found by nine year student Melody Lutz who said that she knew it was something important "because it was heavier than the rocks around it."Also found at the site [photo #1 ]were several pieces of chert, numerous pieces of animal bones (top right), a shell, and a small piece of white salte glazed stoneware.

THE EXCAVATION 1997

September 22, 1997 | September 23, 1997 | September 24, 1997
September 25, 1997 | September 26, 1997 | September 27, 1997
September 29, 1997 | September 30, 1997 | October 1, 1997
October 2, 1997 | October 3, 1997 | October 4, 1997