NILES, Mich. (AP) — Archaeologists are offering a look at progress on the Fort St. Joseph archaeological dig in southwestern Michigan.
“Flowing Back Through Time: Rivers in Historical and Archaeological Perspective” is the theme of a free, 2-day open house Saturday and Sunday at the site in South Riverfront Park in Niles.
Faculty and students from Western Michigan University’s Archaeological Field School will show off the site and recently uncovered artifacts.
Researchers say the Fort St. Joseph mission, garrison and trading post complex was occupied from 1691 to 1781 along the St. Joseph River in what’s now the city of Niles. Built by the French, the fort was at times controlled by the British and the Spanish.
Western Michigan University researchers have worked since 1998 to investigate and interpret the site.