Archaeological Survey digs up the past

From left: UB alumnus Trevor Totman and current students Dan Snyder and Kate Whalen work with UB's Archaeological Survey, part of the Department of Anthropology, at a site off Harlem Road in West Seneca. Photo: Douglas Levere

Trevor Totman (in the pit) and Kate Whalen work at the dig site with UB's Archaeological Survey, which has conducted cultural resource management projects in New York State for more than 30 years. The survey collects archaeological information about any previous occupation of a property before development projects, such as subdivisions or road expansion, can be undertaken. Photo: Douglas Levere

From left: Dan Snyder and Trevor Totman work at the dig site. Photo: Douglas Levere

This Onondaga-type chert, or flint, flake represents a fragment of the debris left behind from the production of chipped-stone tools. Photo: Douglas Levere

A chert flake is the most common artifact type found on pre-contact sites in Western New York. Hundreds were produced during the making of a single chipped-stone arrow point. Photo: Douglas Levere

Mark Conaway shovels dirt into a box used to extract artifacts from dirt. Seated, wearing a hat and safety vest, is Nathan Dubinin. Photo: Douglas Levere

Anthropology students Sal Sciascia and Beccy Biermann shake out the dirt. Photo: Douglas Levere

A student finds a chert flake or a tiny piece of pottery. Native Americans used fire clay pots for cooking and food storage. Photo: Douglas Levere