MALDEN, W. Va. — University scholars continue to uncover layers of the afterlife at a local archaeological dig site outside Charleston — from the discovery of 1,800 artifacts from the salt industry era to archaic pieces dating back long before .
Scholars from West Virginia State University’s Archaeological Field School and along with university scholars from neighboring states last week wrapped up another four-week archaeological dig at the historic Hale House in MaldenArray.
Following last year’s excavations, the site team produced a number of 19th century artefacts, as well as prehistoric objects. This recent mission to the site made it possible to observe many other similar objects.
Dr. Michael Workman, associate professor of History at WVSU and director of the Field School, told MetroNews that the most impressive finds are the archaic pieces they found, dating back to more than 1,000 years BC.
In one of those incredibly old pieces they discovered an archaic-era drill that Workman said was likely used by Native Americans who once roamed the area’s land.
“Probably used by the Native Americans who were here, this position served as a camp, because the salt flats just below attracted game and would be a wonderful position to hunt,” Workman said.
– West Virginia State University (@WVStateU) July 11, 2024
However, Workman said the most recent layer of history uncovered through the equipment at the site also resulted in producing many unique finds.
He said prominent businessman, political leader, business developer and salt maker John Hale likely occupied the historic home on the site in the 1840s and 1850s. Workman said the team found that ceramics, glass, iron, among other artifacts, likely used Hale’s room. , as well as other occupants of the space who had lived there before or after Hale.
Workman said those 19th-century artifacts, while unique finds, were more in line with what they had planned to unearth as part of the project.
“Especially those wrought iron nails made of a type of hammered iron, a hammered iron that was not unusual in the 19th century, a lot of glass and ceramics, so they were signs that, if not Hale, other people in the 19th century were here,” Workman said.
One of the finds they discovered in the last four weeks of excavation was an 1853 gold dollar coin.
Miranda Hummer holds a bachelor’s degree in art and archaeology from Hood College in Frederick, Maryland, and was part of the box crew at the last end of the excavations. He said the discovery of the gold coin was definitely one of his favorite digs in the four-week project. , as it told a lot of history.
“I think they said he hit in Philadelphia, I’m pretty sure, and that my favorite thing so far, he’s in such smart form, he’s so cool,” Hummer told MetroNews.
But overall, Hummer said she’s excited to be a part of the project.
“It’s been a dream, I was born and raised in West Virginia, my whole family circle is, and I need to do my career in West Virginia, in Appalachia, to have the school of my dreams for me,” he said.
Hummer said that by growing up in Martinsburg and loving history, he was able to combine his hobby of the Mountain State, its history and now archeology into a long-term dream and purpose to continue doing what he does.
“I need to do a lot of other excavations and a lot of other studies in West Virginia in particular, pretty much every single era. Honestly, I love Virginia Occidental. Si happened in West Virginia, I need to know. ,” Hummer said.
Workman said that this time a total of 8 academics worked on the task. He said they trained at more than 90 degrees for much of that session, investigating unit after unit.
Workman said that despite the complicated and very hot situations this summer, it has been a very exciting opportunity for the students.
“You know, they get excited when they notice something that someone else might have had in their hands many years ago, and that’s especially true of prehistoric artifacts,” he said.
Workman said the artifacts they unearthed are now owned by WVSU, but will be preserved for examination and research until space is found on campus to purchase them.
He said this specific archaeological dig was made imaginable by a grant from the Greater Kanawha Valley Foundation.
Workman said they would possibly dig more over the next summer.