Uncovering the Foundations (Literally) of Higher Education in Michigan: The Discovery of Michigan State University’s First Campus Observatory

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2024: Individual Abstracts" session, at the 89th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

In May 2023, Michigan State University (MSU) construction workers installing hammock poles hit what they believed was a foundation or rock. They immediately contacted MSU's Campus Archaeology Program (CAP), directed by Dr. Stacey Camp. Ben Akey, the Campus Archaeologist at the time, examined historic maps and aerials, which revealed that the first observatory on campus was once in that location. The Campus Archaeology Program staff then conducted shovel test pits, which appeared to confirm the presence of part of the observatory's foundation. Additional research, which included two 1x1m excavation units and a ground penetrating radar survey, revealed that nearly all of the building's foundation is intact. Our poster will share the preliminary findings as well as press releases and plans for future work at the site.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• SAA 2024: Individual Abstracts   •
• Society for American Archaeology 89th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA (2024)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 37886.0