Archaeological dig reveals people lived in Central Bridge in 2000 B.C.

The Schoharie County archaeological dig continues, and was open to the public for a few days this week.  Archaeology students from SUNY Albany participate in the dig as part of their course work, but for two days each year, the site is open for anyone to get a first hand look at what they're finding. 

Community members check out an excavation site with artifacts from 2000 B.C. [Credit: Barry Sanders/Fox 23]

Loretta Martin, a local mom from Galway brought her kids to see the dig.  "It's in your backyard and you'd never know that this is going on, and you know they're finding things here from thousands of years ago." 

Steve Moragne is the Field Director, and is glad the students can get some hands on experience.  "They're screening the soil, recovering artifacts, they're here to explain what they're doing, they're here to show people what archaeology is." 

New items are found every day, including pieces of pottery, stones from a fire, and many artifacts that can be dated back as far as 2000 B.C. 

Paul Dawson, a SUNY Albany student says, "It's amazing that I'm touching something that a human being made 1000, 2000 years ago, and it's, I feel a connection with them in a way." 

Moragne reflects on their findings, "It's saying, it's a really nice place to live right now, and it's been a really nice place to live to 4500 years, at least." 

So many different types of people have lived here, so with as much history as there is, you never know when you might find a piece of it. 

Fred Seaman's father, a Native American, found a tool shaped artifact while fishing on Schoharie Creek.  He brought it to the dig to see if someone could help him identify when it was made. 

Seaman says, "You never know when you're going to find something.  You could just be kicking along in the dirt, and find something you know?" 

And that's what keeps these students digging for a piece of our history.  The State Archaeologist at the site did look at the stone piece Mr. Seaman brought, and believes that after doing some more research, they should be able to identify when it's from. 

Author: Nicole Papay | Source: Fox 23 News [July 07, 2012]