For Immediate Release Media contact: The Field Museum Greg Borzo 312/665-7106 gborzo@fieldmuseum.org Students Dig Up Past Field Museum conducts hands-on archaeological field school CHICAGO—Have you ever wondered why your community is the way it is, what people before you ate, wore, and did for fun, or why they settled in the area? Field Museum scientists will help a group of students literally uncover part of their past by conducting an archaeological field school at the frontier homestead of Joseph "Pap" Tetter, a former slave who resettled from North Carolina to Hopkins Park, Ill. (60 miles south of Chicago) in 1862. The dig hopes to uncover clues of how these early settlers lived, including Civil War era clothing and furniture, toys and tools, weapons and food remains' even burial sites. It is likely that it will also find prehistoric Native American artifacts. The media is invited to observe the scientists, students and teachers working together, searching for clues, sifting through dirt and digging into the past, on Tuesday, July 10. "The dig will offer students the opportunity to participate in a professional archaeological excavation and learn the techniques that scientists use to study the past," said Scott Demel, Head of Anthropology Collections at The Field Museum. "If we get even one student to study science in college or pursue a career in science, then this program will have been a success." Chap Kusimba, curator of African Archaeology and Ethnology and vice chair of the museum's Anthropology Department, will co-direct the field school. The Kankakee (County) Historic Archaeology Program is in its second year. It was made possible by a grant from the No Child Left Behind funding in conjunction with the Pembroke School District and due to the support of SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives). About 25 students from Lorenzo Elementary School will participate in this year's dig. Eight of them participated last year when they excavated a nearby abandoned family compound owned by Barbara Howery, superintendent of the Pembroke School District. The free program will give students the opportunity to not only cultivate an understanding for archeology, anthropology and ecology, but to learn more about themselves and the community in which they live. Today, the area is predominantly African American and may be one the poorest black communities in the state. Found artifacts could end up on display at a museum or local school. Interested parties can follow the progress of the dig by visiting a Field Museum website devoted to the excavation, or by signing up for free reports at the same website. The Field Museum expeditions website is an innovative tool for learning about scientific exploration and discovery. It features scientists and their work around the world through daily field reports, maps, photographs, and video clips. <<Return to the Press Room