Archaeological Dig Starts at Historic Site in St. Charles

Eight college students watched archaeologist Steve Dasovich demonstrate the correct way to uncover an artifact outside of Plank Road, 903 South Main Street, on Monday morning.

“Archeology is a workout,” he said, as he scraped off the top layer of grass.

During the next four weeks the students will help Dasovich conduct an archaeological dig at the site, an important historic location in St. Charles dating back to 1769. Dasovich is an assistant professor and director of the Archaeology Program at Lindenwood University.

This is the first time students from the University of Missouri, St. Louis have helped at this particular dig site, although a group from the school did a dig at another location on Main Street in the fall.

Patti Wright, associate professor of archeology for University of Missouri, St. Louis, said this month will give many of the students their first opportunity to do field work. The students will be working in four areas on the Plank Road property, which archeologists have studied nearly every year since 2004.

Over the years, Dasovich has uncovered bones, bullets, flint and clay marbles on the property. Archaeologists also found a lock cover and a button from the war of 1812. An important find in the summer of 2008 was a white and peach shard of pottery-- the first French artifact found in the city. Many of those items are encased in a cabinet on the wall of the store, run by Jim Samson.

Over the years, the building has been used as a lawyer’s office, toy soldier store, a garden store and a house. Today Samson sells dulcimers and handmade goods made by people from around the state.

He said the site has turned out to be an excellent place to conduct archaeological research.

“There’s so much to be found,” Samson said.

Students will be digging from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday from May 16 to June 3.