Ivy Tech Community College Joins Dig

Students, faculty, and staff from Ivy Tech in Lawrenceburg recently joined in with the archaeological excavation underway on the banks of the Ohio River near the Oxbow Preserve.

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) - Students, faculty, and staff from Ivy Tech Community College in Lawrenceburg recently joined in with the archaeological excavation underway on the banks of the Ohio River near the Oxbow Preserve, between Hollywood Casino and the Carrol Cropper Bridge, where Archaeological Resources Institute (ARI) is digging to uncover a significant village that existed more than a thousand years ago. Students in the ASAP program, after an orientation, dug, sifted, and cleaned various artifacts from the ancient Guard Village, which probably consisted of between 200 and 300 people who predated local Indian tribes in the Fort Ancient Period. The site is replete with evidence of buildings, fire pits, trash pits, farming implements, and pieces of pottery. Chief Archaeologist Marcus Schulenberg says the goal is to pinpoint this group’s existence, learn about their way of life, and decipher why they left the site and where they immigrated to. ARI Executive Director Liz Sedler says the organization, which is privately funded but works with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, seeks to involve the local community in the process through volunteering at the site, working in the lab where the artifacts are processed and catalogued, and generating general awareness of this rare and significant archaeological find. ARI welcomes members of the community to join in the dig, which will continue through the end of October. However, lab work will continue through the winter months. If interested, go to www.exploreari.org or on Facebook.

The Associate Accelerated Program (ASAP) is a student-focused program designed to support, encourage, and mentor students throughout their first year of college.  This program is great for students who prefer smaller class sizes and who prefer to be on a first name basis with their professors.  ASAP allows students to earn their associate degree in less than one year along with gaining confidence before transferring to a 4-year institution or entering the workforce.   Please contact Heather Gard at hgard3@ivytech.edu for additional ASAP information.

These students worked through Ivy’ Tech’s Service-Learning Program, in which students can earn credit for volunteer service which is connected to their classes. These students have also worked behind the scenes with ARI to promote their efforts. There are many service-learning opportunities in most degree programs. Anyone interested in taking a Service-Learning Program (SLP) class at Ivy Tech should contact Ron Nicholson at rnicholson16@ivytech.edu or call 812.537.4010 extension 5295.