Museum to offer a peek into archaeology dig findings

Find out what Wayne State University archaeology students discovered in their latest dig in Hamtramck. A presentation will be made this Saturday at the Historical Museum. File photo

By Greg Kowalski
Visitors to the Hamtramck Historical Museum will be offered a fascinating view of Hamtramck’s past at the Archaeology Day presentation, noon to 2 p.m, Saturday, Nov. 12.
Students from Wayne State University will be showing a sampling of the items they have uncovered during their archaeological dig, being held now near the viaduct along Jos. Campau.
This is one of the oldest areas of Hamtramck and is rich in artifacts, some dating more than 120 years old.
The presentation will be held between noon and 2 p.m. with a program conducted by Prof. Krysta Ryzewski, who is leading the students’ project, and Sam Burns, a professional archaeologist on the museum’s board of directors.
In addition, Dr. Dan Trepal from Michigan Tech will give an update on the Spacial Deep Map project, a plan to map an area of Hamtramck in extreme detail.
Since September Dr. Ryzewski’s students have been excavating a site where a variety of historical buildings stood over a period spanning three centuries.
Part of the Briggs Manufacturing plant complex was located there.
The J. Gass Saloon also stood there as early as 1906. The students uncovered an extremely rare token from the saloon, among many other objects.
This was the area of Hamtramck that developed first, even before Hamtramck became a village in 1901.
The project has already helped fill in some gaps in the history of Hamtramck relating to that early time and place.
The information, along with the items recovered, has proven to be a treasure trove of history.
The public is invited to the Archaeology Day presentation. It’s free.
The Hamtramck Historical Museum is at 9525 Jos. Campau. For information, contact the museum at hamtramckhistory@gmail.com, or call (313) 690-9390.
Posted Nov. 11, 2022