Young Spartans Invade DelDOT Work Site

W.T. Chipman Students find ancient artifacts during visit to archaeological site

Frederica -- About 3,000 years ago, people lived and traded near the intersection of Routes 1 and 12, near Frederica. About three weeks ago, students from W.T. Chipman Middle School, home of the Spartans in Harrington dug up some of the tools of those ancient cultures.

On April 22 and April 23, about 50 energetic sixth-grade students from W.T. Chipman Middle School in Harrington, visited the dig site recently, learning about native cultures, archaeology and why DelDOT conducts digs before we start building roads.

Each morning, the site hosted 25 students, for a total of 50 students. W.T. Chipman Middle School is part of Lake Forest School District, which encompasses the project area.

Teams of four students each was assigned an archaeologist and started digging for artifacts.

The archaeologist would put a shovelful of soil on the sifting screen and the students, would enthusiastically rub the soil over the screen, looking for artifacts. The children were successful immediately.

Students found stone tools and plenty of arrowheads proving that ancient native populations lived in the Frederica area. Students also discovered pieces of pottery that date back a century or so.

Sixth grader Micale Leager, wanted to know the age of an arrowhead she found. The archaeologists studied the tool, noting the type of stone, and tool marks. ''Well, I can't give you an exact date,'' said DelDOT Archaeologist David Clarke. ''But it's at least 1,000 years old.''

After taking a few moments to look at the artifact, Micale sprinted back to the sifter in the quest for more ancient artifacts.

The young scientists were students of social studies teachers Athena LeBeau and Stephen West.

''Words cannot express the deep appreciation and gratitude for the phenomenal learning experience and opportunity DelDOT has provided and shared with my students,'' LeBeau said. ''Field trips like this are sometimes a once-in-a-lifetime experience for a child that impacts their future in a happy and positive way. Field trips like this are also a teacher's dream because we can take our students out of the classroom and into the real world to explore beyond the concepts we are teaching them in a hands-on, real-life learning experience.''

Finding artifacts without using shovels
While prepping for the construction of the future project on Route 1 and Route 12 in Frederica, testing resulted in archaeological findings suggesting that a major Native American site may have occupied the area.

''Because this spot has a stream and is relatively close to the bay, it was a perfect site for a Native American community,'' Clarke said. ''Just from looking at the map, we knew there would be significant artifacts found here.''

Specifically, archaeological findings noted the Native American Gray Farm Site was occupied during the Woodland I and Woodland II time periods (approximately 3000 BC -AD 1600). The purpose of the current excavation is to learn more about the Native Americans whom occupied the site.

''What we are learning from this site is that the Native Americans traded more than we thought. We have found tools and arrowheads made from stone that is only found in upstate New York,'' Clarke said. ''That indicates there was significant trading up and down the east coast. This spot may have been a key trading station.''

After the digging is done, later this summer, the artifacts will be labeled and then taken to an archaeological laboratory for cleaning, further identification and study.

''When we get the artifacts back to the lab, we'll make a thorough study of them, and date them more accurately,'' Clarke said.