NCC students dig up the past
by Barb Teed

The earth gave up some of its secrets to NCC archeology students recently.
On Oct. 14, 20 students from Susan Krook’s archeology class eagerly dug their hands into the soft dirt on an excavation trip near Tracy, Minn. Not long afterward,
voices yelled out that something was uncovered.

“There’s nothing like a dig,” Krook exclaimed as she went to see what her students had discovered. Huddled over a hole, the students marveled at what they had found. A bone, and a shoulder bone at that. From its size, quite possibly a child’s, Krook said. “I am drunk with optimism,” said student Louis Teerlinck, as he shoveled out more dirt. Another group digging nearby announced they also had a find. Krook hurriedly went to observe what they had uncovered;
pottery shards from a pot made by human hands centuries ago.

“On first inspection, it looks like the Woodland Native American Tradition,” Krook said. “The Woodland period is dated 1,000 B.C. to 1,000 A.D. In just a couple of hours we found a lot of broken-up bone, charcoal, and items that we still haven’t identified.”

Sharing her enthusiasm for archeology digs led Krook, who holds a PhD in anthropology, to organize the excavation trip for her students. Krook said the site, located on a historical farm, had never before been dug for artifacts. “This is a great opportunity for students to do archaeology and to work in an area that has not been examined previously,” she said. “In less than three hours students were able to find numerous artifacts at various levels in the earth.”
Teerlinck agreed. “We are the only people in the state of Minnesota that are doing this site,” he said. Krook contacted the owner of the farm, Jeffrey “Jesse” James, after reading about his property in a local Twin Cities newspaper in July. The county where James lives was preparing to install a sewer system and called in a professional archeology team from St. Paul to test the area for Native American artifacts, Krook said.

“The entire state is considered sacred to some Native Americans,” she said. “The tests revealed artifacts 2,000 years old. The Native Americans in the area did not have the money to pursue it further.” Krook, intrigued by the artifacts, thought her students may enjoy experiencing an excavation first-hand. “I know it is unique,” Krook said. “No one has excavated this site, this I know for sure. As an archeology class, we are more interested in the pre-historic.”

James, a retired educator in the Tracy school district, invited NCC students for a first-ever dig on his land after corresponding with Krook. “He is very interested
in having it evaluated,” she said. James told students his farm dates to 1886. “A population lived on this strip of land 2 to 3,000 years ago,” he said.
Pointing to oak trees that he guessed to be three or four hundred years old he said, “You can just imagine people hiding behind them.” The area was the site of the 1890 Dakota uprising, James said.

Krook had her students do an observation assessment of the land, a walking survey of James’ property, prepare test trenching and excavate the site using trowels, shovels and shifters. The students also had to categorize the artifacts into separate bags.

The students will then wash and analyze the artifacts in a campus lab, Krook said. The objects will be displayed in a case in the science wing. Krook said the owner of the property enjoyed the student’s visit and has invited
them back for a more in-depth excavation.

“We are shooting for early next summer, perhaps for two days this time,” she said. “ [Students] were diligent and most of all were extremely respectful of Mr. James’ property and his hospitality.”

NCC provided the students’ use of a commercial bus at a cost of around $850, Krook said. “Our dean, Paula Smith-Hawkins, procured the funds for a good share of the cost of the bus with restroom facilities.” Student Dawn Whitney seemed to have a good time. “It’s so much fun and I love Sue’s class,” she said.