Texas Archaeologists Discover Ancient King’s Tomb in Belize

Recently, Texas archaeologists Arlen Chase and Diane Chase made a significant find: the 4th-century tomb belonging to Te Kabu Chaak, an early ruler of Caracol, an important Mayan city located in Belize.

Meanwhile, in Ohio, archaeologists are delving into early American history buried beneath the charred floorboards of a historical tavern.

This excavation is part of restoration efforts at Overfield Tavern in Troy, situated about 20 miles north of Dayton. For several weeks, excavators from Ohio Valley Archeology have been working beneath the museum, which is known as the oldest building in the city.

The tavern was built in 1808 and functioned as a courthouse until 1811, when it transitioned into a tavern. It’s been registered as a historical site since 1976.

A catastrophic fire on December 7, 2024, consumed the museum’s interior; however, its original log walls, dating back to 1808, remained mostly intact.

The fire was eventually ruled accidental by the state fire marshal.

In an unexpected turn of events, excavators and volunteers have recently unearthed thousands of historical artifacts.

It’s fascinating to see volunteers sifting through dirt and rocks, working diligently to recover items from history. Chris Manning, the executive director of the Overfield Tavern Museum, shared with reporters that the artifacts they’ve retrieved span from the early 19th century to the late 20th century.

So far, about 4,500 artifacts have been found, although Manning notes they won’t know the exact number until laboratory analyses are complete.

Among the neat finds are coins from 1817 and 1846 that were discovered beneath the tavern’s floorboards. Manning mentioned that a few prehistoric items were also unearthed, indicating there’s even older history waiting to be explored.

He speculated that some of the artifacts could be linked to structures possibly serving as an ice house or root cellar constructed in the early 19th century.

The plan is to restore the tavern by 2027, at which point selected artifacts will be featured in the museum once it reopens.

Interestingly, it seems that a small log building attached to the tavern was built later than what was first believed. Manning also pointed out a sizable limestone foundation they uncovered in their backyard, which extends about 6 feet underground, with a brick flooring layer at its base.

This excavation aligns with a similar project happening in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where archaeologists and students from Millersville University are exploring the remnants of what might be the county’s oldest tavern, dating back to 1725.