By Leah Hromalik
Ever wondered what occurs at an archaeological dig?
In Fulton, there lies a house called the McWhorter House that was built in 1828. There, students from SUNY Oswego dig under the supervision of director Dr. Ossa, uncovering stone structures such as privies (old outdoor bathrooms) and middens (trash heaps).
There have been multiple cool discoveries in the midden, including datable pieces of ceramics and a large cow bone (pictured above). The cow bone is especially large due to how the site’s Victorian-era residents ate meat. They often consumed the animals they raised or hunted, preferring the fattier femoral portion.
When samples like these are collected, they are taken to a laboratory where they are analyzed to identify exactly what specimen is being observed.
While archaeology is not traditionally considered part of STEM, it utilizes tools readily employed in STEM fields. Archaeologists collect data, analyze artifacts in laboratories, and use evidence from bones, ceramics, and other finds to learn how people lived in the past.
This field dig is expected to last all summer, and the discoveries are not done yet. A new structure has been uncovered, but its purpose remains a mystery.
More about the site and the Victorian era in Part Two!
