Ohio Archaeologists Uncover Historical Artifacts at Overfield Tavern

In Ohio, archaeologists are revealing a segment of early American history buried under the scorched floorboards of a historic tavern.

This excavation is part of the restoration project at the Overfield Tavern in Troy, situated around 20 miles north of Dayton.

For several weeks now, teams from Ohio Valley Archeology have been digging beneath the city’s oldest building, which was constructed in 1808 and operated as a courthouse until 1811, when it transitioned into a tavern. This building has been recognized on the National Register of Historic Places since 1976.

A tragic fire, which occurred in the early hours of December 7, 2024, devastated the interior of the museum, though the original log walls from 1808 remained mostly intact, as noted on the museum’s website.

The state fire marshal later classified the fire as accidental.

In a surprising twist of fate, thousands of historical artifacts have recently been uncovered by both excavators and volunteers.

Images from the site depict volunteers sorting through soil and stones to retrieve these artifacts.

Chris Manning, the executive director of the Overfield Tavern Museum, shared with a news outlet that most of the items recovered are from the early 19th century up to the late 20th century.

“We’ve also uncovered some prehistoric items that are obviously much older,” said Manning.

He mentioned that current lab analyses will shed more light on these findings.

“It’s estimated we’ve recovered around 4,500 artifacts, but we won’t know for sure until the analysis is finished,” Manning added.

Among the unearthed artifacts were a coin from 1817 and another from 1846, both found beneath the tavern’s floor.

Manning noted that they found indications that a small log structure attached to the rear of the tavern was built later than previously believed.

“It might have been constructed just a few years after we thought; we initially believed it was about five years old,” he explained.

Additionally, Manning mentioned a significant limestone foundation discovered in the backyard, reaching about 6 feet deep, with a brick floor at its base.

“Although we’re still analyzing it, this may represent an ice house or root cellar from the first half of the 19th century,” he said.

The plan is to complete the tavern’s restoration by 2027, coinciding with the museum’s reopening.

“Selected artifacts will be showcased once the museum is ready,” he noted.

This excavation is happening alongside another in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where archaeologists and students from Millersville University are exploring what could be the remains of the county’s oldest tavern, dating back to 1725.