One man’s toilet is another man’s treasure.
Archaeologists with The Ottery Group are hard at work at Vienna’s Freeman Store & Museum in an effort to uncover hidden history.
The endeavor is being led by Historic Vienna after the nonprofit raised the needed $20,000. The organization has wanted to do the dig for decades.
The Freeman Store & Museum, built in 1859, was Vienna’s first general store. It also served a post office. And during the Civil War, both Union and Confederate troops occupied it.
A 2021 survey using ground-penetrating radar found 36 potential areas of interest. Of those, it was determined that four were worthy of more investigation, according to a 2022 town proposal.
Those areas are identified as the following:
- The road or barn area in the front side yard;
- Two features next to and behind the Freeman Store tentatively identified as wells or toilets;
- The immediate backyard area by the current brick patio.
“It’ll be fascinating to learn what the archaeologists uncover,” the Freeman Store said in an Instagram post.
The digs are taking place in four 1×1 meter (3.3×3.3 foot) work areas, which will expand in size as needed. There are test pits nearby to catch and ID any extra artifacts or historic features. The current survey will also document, wash, catalog, and bag and tag anything discovered.
Historic Vienna says it’s eyeing Fairfax Archaeology as the destination for uncovered artifacts.
If anything rises to the level of an Indiana Jones adventure, Historic Vienna says it could host a Public Archaeology Day or an exhibit inside the Freeman Store.
The public can come check out the endeavor from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on March 14 and 17 at 131 Church St. NE, Vienna.
Featured photo courtesy Freeman Store & Museum/Instagram
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