Public Archaeology Corps uncovers Pre-Revolutionary War artifacts in downtown Wilmington

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Public Archeology Corps in Wilmington made some interesting finds at a dig site in downtown Wilmington. 

In May, we told you about some of the work that PAC is doing at a dig site along Quince Alley in Wilmington. 

Since then, the corps has dug down 5 feet below the surface. Recently, they discovered artifacts dating back to before Revolutionary War.  

Volunteers found pieces of a ceramic bowl that commemorates British Admiral Augustus Keppel, who was a British Royal Navy officer in the 1700s. 

The team also found planks of wood that could be the remnants of the original riverbank, well below where it is today. 

PAC Historian David Norris said the site is a great example of the centuries of history that lies underneath downtown Wilmington. 

“I’ve seen the building sit empty as long as I’ve been living in Wilmington, about 25 years. I never knew what was in it until they started digging and just found what a tremendous amount of material is in there and how many stories that can come out and tell us about how people lived in the 18th century.” 

To donate, volunteer, or learn more about the Public Archeology Corps, you can visit their website.