JD Malone of the Express-Times reports that the archaeological dig on the grounds of the proposed 7th & 8th grade building is now being conducted (read the article here).
The dig and study process are both outlined in the article. It is again noted that the cost to the NASD is about $100,000 and that this will not delay the project, although a Phase III follow-up could.
A note late in the article was of interest: " So far the dig has turned up a couple of dozen arrowheads and 10 to 20 pounds of other items, Lynch said. The items are photographed, catalogued and sent to Harrisburg for storage. The district can opt to store the stone tools and arrowheads but the state charges a fee to do so."
Wouldn't this be an ideal learning opportunity for students? Why not take these items, have reports and histories of the Indians who made them created, and display them in the lobby of the new building along with maps of where they were found and markers of the same in the to be created retention pond?
This would be first-hand history. Instead the state confiscates what is found on the school's property and charges a fee if the items aren't kept in the state's custody. Something doesn't seem right about this arrangement/process.
3 comments:
ross, the current dig is in phase iii, this is it.
Wow, so we pay $100,000 to conduct the dig and the state takes the treasure from our back yard. However, we can pay another fee to get it back and "house it".
Amazing.
It sounds to me like blackmail is getting cheaper and cheaper and apparently, LEGAL? How much does Harrisburg charge for common sense?
Mr. Wright used to teach history in the old middle school. He used to bring his collection of local indian artefacts into the classroom. He taught us about the Native Americans that lived in and around Nazareth. He would point to the East Lawn and teach us with passion about the large village of Welagamika that stretched from 84 Lumber all the way to Gracedale. He inspired me to research the Moravian archives and launched me on a life long hobby of collecting artefacts. I think it is a wonderful chance to maybe inspire a few other students to take a greater interest in history, prehistory and archeology. Nazareth is so rich in prehistoric history dating back nearly 10,000 years or more. I hope that more salvage work will be applied to the many housing developments that now threaten hundreds of ancient sites.
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