They are looking for evidence that the hilltop was occupied 12,000 years ago by prehistoric peoples called Paleo-Indians. In addition to the archaeologists at work, over 30 volunteers have pitched in so far to complete the work needed to determine if Paleo-Indians used the site. Artifacts found at the site indicate that Paleo-Indians and Archaic Indians occupied the knoll across from K Mart on the Danville bypass. The work of the volunteers is serving two purposes - giving them a chance to work at a dig and saving the city of Danville money. The study is required because Danville is using federal money to pay part of the cost of a water storage tower on the site.
Money is the furthest thing from the volunteers' minds.
Rebecca Conover from Harrodsburg showed up because she's an amateur historian. Carolyn Dillon, who recently moved to Danville from Wisconsin, joked that she would have to be unpacking boxes if she weren't at the dig. The volunteer's life is simple and interesting as this reporter found out one afternoon. You screen the dirt for the archaeologists who are carefully skimming the dirt from two-meter squares. Screening dirt gives the volunteer time to talk with the archaeologist or a fellow screener.