About a dozen undergraduate and graduate students from the archaeology field school of Central Michigan University (CMU) recently began excavating two spots at Michigan’s Fort Gratiot Lighthouse. They were assisted for a short time by a few middle-school students who were there to learn from the CMU team.
The dig was centered on the sites of structures that are no longer standing, such as the original keeper’s house and the 1800s privies.
Some of items that have been found have included an 1850 penny; glass bottles, including a medicine bottle; marbles, an early glass trade bead; buttons, nails, and parts of pottery.
It is hoped that the archaeology dig may help to determine if the original keeper’s house was demolished or if it burned down, something that has been in question for years. (Photos by Andrew Kercher, Port Huron Museum)
This story appeared in the
Sep/Oct 2019 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. The print edition contains more stories than our internet edition, and each story generally contains more photographs - often many more - in the print edition. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.
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