RICHMOND, Ky. — Students studying archaeology and anthropology are getting hands on experience in Richmond. Eastern Kentucky University hosted its first public “Archaeology Day,” showcasing archaeological work in the region.
Anthropology students at EKU got down and dirty, digging up the land at what will be the site of a multi-million dollar sports complex in Richmond. Maddox Hillard, a senior at EKU, said he’s found old-time forks, nails and even ceramics during his digs.
“It’s literally you’re touching history; in some cases, with some of these prehistoric type stuff that we’ve found, it’s something that is thousands of years old that you’re holding in your hand,” Hillard said.
Hillard is one of nearly a dozen students getting their first field experience at the field school, made possible by a partnership between EKU and the city of Richmond.
“We found this piece first and then Cameron was sifting, and she found a piece of whiteware, and I brought it over; finding things that fit together that perfectly is really rare,” said Hillard as he described two pieces of ceramics.
The over 280 acres off of Goggins Lane will be home to athletic fields, courts and trails, but the city is using these students to understand the history of the land.
“All the way back from the very first people to live here thousands and thousands of years ago, all the way up to modern day; archaeology is really the study of our past and history and how we impact, shape and use the world around us,” said Kimberly Swisher, assistant professor of archaeology at EKU.
Swisher said every artifact helps tell a story from its time period.
“From lithic stone tools that indigenous communities made when they were living here from the middle to late archaic, all the way up through to throughout the 1800s,” Swisher said.
For students, it’s their first experience at a real-life field site.
“You get to get involved with people and get them interested in caring about our history,” Hillard said.
The Richmond Regional Sports Complex is slated to open next year.