Saturday, October 16, 2004
The group conducted a dig at an Underground Railroad site.
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio (AP) -- A group of college students are not just studying history -- they are unearthing it.
During the past two months, 17 Wittenberg University students in a history class taught by professors Tom Taylor and Darlene Brooks Hedstrom have conducted an archaeological dig at the Gammon House -- an Underground Railroad site in this western Ohio city.
In true Indiana Jones style, the students have set up camp inside the historic house, carefully removing layers of dirt underneath the rotted floorboards.
The students hope to uncover artifacts and clues to the life of the Gammon family, which reportedly hid slaves seeking freedom before and during the Civil War.
"This is really interesting to me," said student Heather Griffith, 21. "There is not a lot of connection to the Civil War in Ohio, no real battles fought. It is really neat to find something here that brings that time period to life."
A tiny porcelain doll leg deposited under the dirt piqued the curiosity of Tracy Gregory-Brown.
"This is something someone played with -- a part of a lifetime in the past," said Gregory-Brown, 33, as she held the tiny doll leg in her palm.
Around her were labeled bags with other items found in the house, from pottery to bottles to a 2-cent coin.
Raises questions
The discovery of the doll left the group with many questions about whether it was owned by one of the Gammon children or a slave, and how it was left behind. Was it dropped in haste as a family was quickly moved to the next safe house?
"That's what archaeology is all about," Hedstrom said. "It asks more questions than it answers."
Hedstrom said the Gammon house excavation poses unique challenges both due to its limited budget and the clandestine nature of the Underground Railroad.
"This is a challenge because we're looking at the history of an event that was supposed to be hidden," said the professor whose experience is in Egyptian archaeological digs. "We are looking for clues -- evidence of something that is not supposed to be here."
The workers prepare detailed drawings of each item and where it was found as they dig. The items are then labeled and stored in airtight bags, and many will eventually be displayed in a museum.
After the dig, students will begin analyzing the finds hoping to determine not only the diet and lifestyle of the Gammons, but also whether slaves were kept in a special area of the home -- maybe underground -- where they might have built a fire or prepared food.
"We were hoping to find underground tunnels," Josh Crye, 20 said. "But we haven't found any yet."
Hedstrom said the students will return in the spring to begin a dig on the property around the house.
"These students are realizing that each town has a unique history," Hedstrom said. "Even a house they didn't know was here could have a treasure they never thought of."