True to their school's name, students dug through soil horizons and found artifacts representing what could have been seven generations of life at the historic 1803 House.

In preparation for a future herb garden, sixth and seventh grade students at Seven Generations Charter School excavated next to one of Emmaus' treasured historic landmarks with an archeological dig.

Educational Specialist and Middle School Spanish Teacher Ryan Loughren guided the students using the Pythagorean theorem to map out a five-site grid, marking the four corners and middle of the planned garden.

Loughren taught the students how to execute a professional dig by carefully excavating the site, sifting through the layers of soil and documenting everything.

Loughren, who has participated in professional archeological excavations throughout upstate New York, New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania, showed the students how to dig through the soil horizons while paying close attention to the historical value of even the smallest items.

The five holes on the southeast side of the house, bordering the creek, produced several interesting artifacts including hand-cut nails, shards of pottery and soles of shoes.

President of the Friends of the 1803 House Richard Farmer said students also discovered large fieldstones in the center site. He said the stones are in an arrangement that could be the foundation for a springhouse, a bake oven, a privy or some other farm structure.

"This is more than we expected and this project will have a real impact on explaining the history of the 1803 House," Farmer said. "We will be contacting experts to confirm our hunches and publish this data."

The deeper the students dug into the past, the more valuable the artifacts became in telling the story of Jacob Ehrenhardt Jr. and the 209 years of history at the 1803 House.

The students spent several weeks studying archeology and allowed their excitement to swell as they donned their gloves, grabbed their shovels and broke ground.

They learned safety is a top priority and focused on knowing their surroundings while approaching the project with a healthy amount of respect for the historical value of the home once owned by the son of one of Emmaus' founders.

The well-documented collection of items is planned to be on display at the 1803 House after the students are finished studying the items.

Jeremy Cornier, a sixth grade student at Seven Generations Charter School, said he hopes his school's project will help spark an interest in local history.

"I hope more people will come to get tours," Cornier said.