Digging Minneapolis
For five days during the first week in August, archaeologists, volunteers, and community members will be digging up Minneapolis’ past. The Elliot Park Neighborhood Archaeology Project (EPNAP) will dig down deep to reveal 2 small houses from the 1880s at a parcel of land just south of downtown Minneapolis. The parcel of land is rare because unlike much of downtown Minneapolis, the area hasn’t been built up or paved over.
The idea behind the project: “This community based public archaeology project promotes the neighborhood’s stewardship of its own history by involving community residents in the excavation and study of urban historic sites in this central Minneapolis neighborhood.” - U of M Department of Archaeology
In it’s third year, the project has uncovered chamber pots, plates, an old fireplace, a human tooth, a wooden floor, and many other turn of the 20th Century items. I visited the dig last year, and it was really an amazing thing to see. This year, I’ll be volunteering.
The Minnesota AIDS Project owns the land and has graciously allowed the project space to conduct the dig. Parking for the dig is very easy and off-street. The EPNAP will be Wednesday, August 2nd to Sunday, August 6th from 9 am to 5 pm at 1400 Park Avenue. U of M Graduate Student, Kent Bakken will be leading the dig. For more information, to sign up volunteer, or to see photos from last year, visit his University of Minnesota webpage.
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No kidding! How ’bout that.
How did the houses end up underground?
What’s buried is mostly the foundation, the floors and some walls. It probably just filled in over time. Also, there was a single family home built over the site around 1950 or so, that was demolished later on when Hazeldon (sp?) built up around the area.
Oh, okay. I suppose it makes sense that people would have such things in their basement.