Archaeology students to show off skills during weekend dig

For thousands who plan on attending this weekend’s annual Johnny Appleseed Festival, their trek may start across Coliseum Boulevard on the campus of Purdue University Fort Wayne. Hoping to capitalize on this built-in interest in time travel, PFW students and professional archaeologists will be camping out on both sides of the Ron Venderly Family Bridge on Saturday to show off their passions to visitors walking by. 

“It’s a pretty cool experience to talk to the public and tell them we are archaeologists,” senior Emily Doctor said. “We’re here to engage the public in archaeology and hope they get a better appreciation for it.”

Students will be digging from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to demonstrate techniques and methods as part of Indiana’s Archaeology Month. They’ll also give away coloring books created by archaeologists, crayons, and stickers for the younger fans. The event is sponsored in collaboration with RESCOM Environmental Corp and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. 

PFW faculty members Jamie Cochran-Smith and Andrew Smith have used the site for four years to train students on digging and excavation before they tackle larger projects off campus. Because of the location next to the St. Joseph River, the professors expected to find an ancient settlement, and the students have proven it. They’ve found flakes, tools, and arrowheads. Cochran-Smith said the site is possibly 4,000 years old, though they have yet to find walls or firepits of a permanent structure. Only about one-third of the area has been excavated.

“Knowing somebody sat there thousands of years ago and used a stone tool is pretty cool,” Doctor said. “I’m the first person to touch some of this in several thousand years.”

Students shovel to remove the top soil until they see it change color and then scrape away 10-centimeter layers. The dirt is then sifted.

“I like outreach and talking in front of people,” said junior Julian Colon. “It’s kind of like in my wheelhouse, so when we got that opportunity to come out here and be that front line between the community and archaeology, I jumped on it immediately. It’s a special feeling to have that particular knowledge; nowhere near the expertise, but it’s just a glimpse of it—a glance.”

It’s even better when children get involved and ask questions.

“When they are hungry for information about it, you get to be that person who sates that, it’s a pretty cool feeling,” Colon said.

Click here to learn more about PFW’s Department of Anthropology and Sociology.