It is a true-life story of what lies beneath. Under a piece of land near Dayton, Ohio, the artifacts that assistant professor of archaeology Robert Cook found saved the land from potential development. Cook and his 2007 Archaeological Field School recently finished a five-week archaeological dig on the land.
A survey conducted by professors at Wright State University in 1981 gave Cook the idea for the dig. The survey found some artifacts and registered them with the Ohio Historical Society. Cook said he wanted to research the land further and contacted the owners of the land.
Cemex, the cement and concrete manufacturing company that owns the land, was supportive of the dig when in January Cook informed it of the potential for artifacts on the property.
Jennifer Borgen, a spokeswoman for Cemex, said the marshy land where the dig took place is not conducive to mining the rocks needed for cement and concrete, so the company was considering selling the land. When the company learned about the potential for artifacts, it put the sale on hold.
"Because we work with the earth, we have a responsibility," she said.
Using non-invasive tools such as ground-penetrating radar, which Cook said is similar to taking an X-ray of the ground, objects were located beneath the surface. Cook said because the objects were not randomly placed, there was potential for finding artifacts. As the dig began, Cook said it became apparent they found the remnants of a settlement from approximately 800 years ago.
"It's kind of like a garbage can where they placed all of their trash or things they didn't use anymore," Cook said.
The ancient garbage can hold artifacts such as arrowheads and pottery.
For Melanie Cole, a senior in anthropology, this was her first dig. Cole said she learned a lot, including field methods and why professionals use them.
"Overall, it was quite hard work, and we learned that there actually is a right way and a wrong way to use a shovel and a trowel," she said.
Borgen said the company has not yet decided the future use for the land. The future will depend on the new discoveries that Cook and his students make.
"I'm excited to see what happens next, and we'd really like to see all the artifacts preserved," she said.
The anthropology department will continue to research the land and the artifacts found throughout the following school year and will host another field school there next summer.
Elizabeth Slightam can be reached at slightam.1@osu.edu.
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