In times of new construction, there is always the possibility of workers rediscovering a piece of the past. From ancient roadways to rare artifacts, construction workers have had the pleasure of being some of the first people to rediscover amazing puzzle pieces to the past. In this article, you will learn about a recent find in Wisconsin.
During the development of a new stretch of Highway 35 in Onalaska, Wisconsin, there are a few unexpected details that have to be ironed out. While the road construction crews were completing their usual tasks, they happened upon an ancient civilization that once occupied the same space. Archeologists jumped at the chance to explore what has been described as a ‘goldmine’ of buried artifacts and secrets.
The excitement comes because you truly never know what you are going to uncover on one of these investigations. The road construction will still continue, but at the same time, archeologists and other scientists from the local Archeological Center will travel back into time as they explore some of the trash of the past.
An agreement drawn up between the Archeology Center and the Wisconsin Department of Transportation will allow archeologists to explore the ancient civilization while crews still repair the road. The researchers will be on the lookout for information that helps shed light on activities and habits that have a connection with modern times.
Some of the things that scientists will study include bits of pottery, animal bones and remnants of food that people living centuries ago had left behind. Some of the inhabitants were part of the first Wisconsin Farmers and descendants of the Ho-Chunk nation.
Studying the ancient past has benefits for people living today. Over the years, such research has revealed ways on how to prevent erosion, prevent the destruction of agricultural fields, and learn more about the affects of farming ”“ just by studying ancient fields.
The archeologists are working against the clock. In time, the ancient civilization will be sealed once again with concrete, but they will still have a chance to study before this happens. Tens of thousands of artifacts have already been discovered, which will give the archeologists plenty of items to work with. It takes the researchers an average of several years to study and report their findings for a treasure trove of this size.
Other archeology headlines that have hit the July 2012 airwaves and papers include:
· Egypt ”“ In an effort to attract more tourists to their country, Egyptian officials have announced the reopening of six tombs on the Giza plateau. In Sakkara, an underground temple called the Serapeum will also reopen following a 10-year restoration project.
· Northern Ireland ”“ Archeologists in Northern Ireland are working to excavate a medieval site situated on an artificial island known as a crannog. The site will soon be demolished to make way for the construction of a new road. So far, researchers have uncovered a fine comb made out of bone, a sharp metal blade, a leather show, and arrowheads that date back to the Bronze Age.