Wittenberg students to explain cemetery dig at First Friday event

Wittenberg student Casey Juday, from New Carlisle, scrapes the ground in her archeological dig site Thursday, May 31, 2018 at the Columbia Street Cemetery. Bill Lackey/Staff

Wittenberg student Casey Juday, from New Carlisle, scrapes the ground in her archeological dig site Thursday, May 31, 2018 at the Columbia Street Cemetery. Bill Lackey/Staff
By Matt Sanctis
June 1, 2018
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Archaeology students at Wittenberg University will show off artifacts and explain their latest project conducted at a historic Springfield Cemetery at the Chamber of Greater Springfield’s First Friday event .

Students in the university’s archaeology program will be on hand beginning at 5 p.m. Friday at the Hatch Artist Studios, 105 N. Center St. in Springfield, to highlight findings from their recent work at the Columbia Street Cemetery. The cemetery, located next to Mother Stewart’s Brewing Co., was Springfield’s first burial site, dating back as far as 1801.

As part of a push to preserve and improve the cemetery, Wittenberg students have devoted weeks to excavating sections of the site to learn more about the cemetery and the lives of the people who were among the city’s first settlers. The students will show off artifacts discovered during their work and explain the project to interested visitors.

Throughout the project, the students have discovered hidden gravestones and evidence of walking paths through the site. Along with several veterans of the Revolutionary War, the cemetery is also likely a burial site for one of the original members of the Boston Tea Party.

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About the Author

Matt Sanctis