Archaeological News

Archaeologists dig in basement of southern Indiana courthouse, searching for 1800s artifacts

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Some archaeologists have been digging in the basement of a southern Indiana courthouse trying to learn more about the history of the site going back to the 1800s.

Indiana University archaeologist Cheryl Munson says the current Monroe County Courthouse was completed in 1908. But the downtown Bloomington spot previously also included a firehouse complete with a horse stable, along with a bell tower and the county’s first library.

The Herald-Times reports Munson and some volunteer archeologists spent two days last week on the dig. Their finds included a piece of plaster painted robin-egg blue that might be from the previous courthouse, some bottles, a brass doorknob and a brick stamped with “B.Co.”

Munson suspects many historical artifacts are buried beneath the courthouse lawn and would love to dig there. (source)

courthouse  archaeology  artifacts  bloomington  history  indiana 


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