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<p>DURYEA &#8212; At the end of a winding dirt road that runs along the Susquehanna River sits a gigantic white canopy. Inside, groups of people carefully dig away at square holes in the ground. Outside, children and their parents shuffle dirt and rock in a giant hanging sifter, hoping to find buried treasures of the past.</p><p>The Frances Dorrance Chapter of the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology held a free public dig at the Coxton Yard in Duryea on Sunday.</p><p>Site coordinator Al Pesotine said the day is meant to bring out the public and teach them about the aspects of archaeology, as well as to provide information on the area&#8217;s history through artifacts.</p><p>The group is currently working on the Conrail Site &#8212; a 28-square-meter site next to the river that goes about seven feet deep and once housed a railroad yard. Pesotine said in all, excavation of the site should take about three years to complete.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a multi-component site,&#8221; he said, adding that artifacts from the site have been carbon-dated as far back as 8020 B.C.</p><p>From handmade stone tools to coins and Indian spearheads, Pesotine&#8217;s seen it all. However, there&#8217;s one thing he&#8217;s been hoping to locate &#8212; Clovis.</p><p>The earliest evidence of man in America, remains of Clovis have been found in the area, although the pieces that have been discovered are either too small or come from disturbed areas, so they can&#8217;t be formally registered.</p><p>&#8220;We haven&#8217;t found Clovis here yet, but we&#8217;ve found things that say they were here,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It was found across the road, but it was disturbed.&#8221;</p><p>Aside from digging for artifacts, the society also measures and tests soil.</p><p>Association members said tests show that the area&#8217;s soil is extremely acidic, presumably from coal mining, which makes it more difficult to find bone remains.</p><p>When asked about his most valuable find, Pesotine said he couldn&#8217;t choose just one.</p><p>&#8220;Just to find an area that&#8217;s in tact. Just to preserve the history &#8212; that&#8217;s the most important thing,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Just to save a little bit of history.&#8221;</p><p>As Pesotine takes a break to examine a piece of Indian pottery that was discovered, society Treasurer Ted Baird, of Moscow, walks over to another part of the site.</p><p>Baird says the current dig is an extension of the excavation of a square stone foundation that has pieces pieces dating back to the 1700s.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;ve found everything there, from during the Revolution to Budweiser bottles,&#8221; he said with a chuckle.</p><p>Baird loves how archaeology tells a story, with each artifact adding more information to the plot.</p><p>&#8220;When you first start out, it&#8217;s kind of mysterious &#8212; you don&#8217;t really know what&#8217;s going on. Then, as you carefully uncover more, the pieces begin to come together.&#8221;</p><p>Pesotine said the group would teach and train those who have an interest in digging, or those wanting to learn about the area&#8217;s geology.</p><p>&#8220;Anyone that has a general interest in archaeology,&#8221; he said.</p><p>Membership for the Society costs $10 per year, with digs happening every Sunday in the spring and summer months.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Ted Baird, of Moscow, sifts through dirt and debris &#8212; a combination of coal, ash and gravel &#8212; in hopes of finding artifacts at Coxton Yard. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_TTL080816Coxton1-2.jpg</photo0><caption0>Ted Baird, of Moscow, sifts through dirt and debris &#8212; a combination of coal, ash and gravel &#8212; in hopes of finding artifacts at Coxton Yard. </caption0><photoCredit0>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_TTL080816Coxton2-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Tom Baird searches through dirt and railroad debris Sunday to find artifacts that would tell the history behind the Coxton railroad yard at an archaeology dig site in Duryea. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_TTL080816Coxton2-2.jpg</photo1><caption1>Tom Baird searches through dirt and railroad debris Sunday to find artifacts that would tell the history behind the Coxton railroad yard at an archaeology dig site in Duryea. </caption1><photoCredit1>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_TTL080816Coxton5-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Volunteer Jill Triano digs a 10-inch hole in search of artifacts under a canopy in Coxton Yard. Triano has been with the archaeological society chapter for two years. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_TTL080816Coxton5-2.jpg</photo2><caption2>Volunteer Jill Triano digs a 10-inch hole in search of artifacts under a canopy in Coxton Yard. Triano has been with the archaeological society chapter for two years. </caption2><photoCredit2>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_TTL080816Coxton6-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Sophia Azar, 4, right, and her brother Elias, 7, both of Scranton, listen to chapter member Brad Turi speak about sifting through the dirt for valuable artifact. Helping Sophia sift through the dirt is chapter member Tom Jesso. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_TTL080816Coxton6-2.jpg</photo3><caption3>Sophia Azar, 4, right, and her brother Elias, 7, both of Scranton, listen to chapter member Brad Turi speak about sifting through the dirt for valuable artifact. Helping Sophia sift through the dirt is chapter member Tom Jesso. </caption3><photoCredit3>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_TTL080816Coxton4-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Lilly Russian, 8, of West Pittston, right, uses her trowel to help Mark Dziak, of Pittston, put dirt into his shovel in the archaeological dig. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_TTL080816Coxton4-2.jpg</photo4><caption4>Lilly Russian, 8, of West Pittston, right, uses her trowel to help Mark Dziak, of Pittston, put dirt into his shovel in the archaeological dig. </caption4><photoCredit4>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit4></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_TTL080816Coxton1-cmyk.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Ted Baird, of Moscow, sifts through dirt and debris &#8212; a combination of coal, ash and gravel &#8212; in hopes of finding artifacts at Coxton Yard. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo5>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_TTL080816Coxton1-cmyk.jpg</photo5><caption5>Ted Baird, of Moscow, sifts through dirt and debris &#8212; a combination of coal, ash and gravel &#8212; in hopes of finding artifacts at Coxton Yard. </caption5><photoCredit5>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit5></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_TTL080816Coxton2-cmyk.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Tom Baird searches through dirt and railroad debris Sunday to find artifacts that would tell the history behind the Coxton railroad yard at an archaeology dig site in Duryea. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo6>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_TTL080816Coxton2-cmyk.jpg</photo6><caption6>Tom Baird searches through dirt and railroad debris Sunday to find artifacts that would tell the history behind the Coxton railroad yard at an archaeology dig site in Duryea. </caption6><photoCredit6>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit6></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_TTL080816Coxton3-cmyk.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Mike Goldsmith searches for artifacts with a wooden stick that is used to help dig around rocks without damaging or marking valuable archaeological findings. Goldsmith, a road worker by day, is treasurer of the Frances Dorrance Chapter of the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology and has been with the organization for 25 years. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo7>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_TTL080816Coxton3-cmyk.jpg</photo7><caption7>Mike Goldsmith searches for artifacts with a wooden stick that is used to help dig around rocks without damaging or marking valuable archaeological findings. Goldsmith, a road worker by day, is treasurer of the Frances Dorrance Chapter of the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology and has been with the organization for 25 years. </caption7><photoCredit7>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit7></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_TTL080816Coxton4-cmyk.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Lilly Russian, 8, of West Pittston, right, uses her trowel to help Mark Dziak, of Pittston, put dirt into his shovel in the archaeological dig. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo8>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_TTL080816Coxton4-cmyk.jpg</photo8><caption8>Lilly Russian, 8, of West Pittston, right, uses her trowel to help Mark Dziak, of Pittston, put dirt into his shovel in the archaeological dig. </caption8><photoCredit8>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit8></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_TTL080816Coxton5-cmyk.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Volunteer Jill Triano digs a 10-inch hole in search of artifacts under a canopy in Coxton Yard. Triano has been with the archaeological society chapter for two years. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo9>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_TTL080816Coxton5-cmyk.jpg</photo9><caption9>Volunteer Jill Triano digs a 10-inch hole in search of artifacts under a canopy in Coxton Yard. Triano has been with the archaeological society chapter for two years. </caption9><photoCredit9>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit9></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_TTL080816Coxton6-cmyk.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Sophia Azar, 4, right, and her brother Elias, 7, both of Scranton, listen to chapter member Brad Turi speak about sifting through the dirt for valuable artifact. Helping Sophia sift through the dirt is chapter member Tom Jesso. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo10>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_TTL080816Coxton6-cmyk.jpg</photo10><caption10>Sophia Azar, 4, right, and her brother Elias, 7, both of Scranton, listen to chapter member Brad Turi speak about sifting through the dirt for valuable artifact. Helping Sophia sift through the dirt is chapter member Tom Jesso. </caption10><photoCredit10>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit10></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_TTL080816Coxton3-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Mike Goldsmith searches for artifacts with a wooden stick that is used to help dig around the rocks without damaging or putting any marks on valuable findings at the Coxton Railroad Yard in Duryea on Sunday, August 7. Goldsmith, a roadworker by day, holds the position of Treasurer for the Frances Dorrance Chapter of the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology and has been with the organization for 25 years. 8/7/16. Sean McKeag | Times Leader</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo11>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_TTL080816Coxton3-2.jpg</photo11><caption11>Mike Goldsmith searches for artifacts with a wooden stick that is used to help dig around the rocks without damaging or putting any marks on valuable findings at the Coxton Railroad Yard in Duryea on Sunday, August 7. Goldsmith, a roadworker by day, holds the position of Treasurer for the Frances Dorrance Chapter of the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology and has been with the organization for 25 years. 8/7/16. Sean McKeag | Times Leader</caption11><photoCredit11>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit11></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Coxton rail yard is an archaeology site</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Marcella Kester</p><p>for Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>ON THE WEB</strong></p><p>Learn more about the Society for Pennsylvania Archaeology at <a href="http://www.pennsylvaniaarchaeology.com/" target="_blank">www.pennsylvaniaarchaeology.com</a>.</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach the Times Leader newsroom at 570-829-7242 or on Twitter @TLnews.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Digging into history in Duryea: Artifacts discovered at archaeology site