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Archaeological Dig Site Vandalized

DURYEA – Members of the Greater Pittston Historical Society told Newswatch 16 that someone vandalized their archaeological dig site earlier this week in Luzerne...

DURYEA – Members of the Greater Pittston Historical Society told Newswatch 16 that someone vandalized their archaeological dig site earlier this week in Luzerne County.

Volunteers said the greenhouse-type plastic enclosure over the Coxton dig site was slashed, tables were broken and tools were thrown into the pit, which likely damaged Native American artifacts more than 8,000 years old.

George Dziak told Newswatch 16 that there is several thousand dollars in damages to the site and he doesn’t understand why anyone would target the site, used by history enthusiasts and local students.

"That whole area is destroyed,” said Dziak. “They don't know about what an archaeological site is. They probably can't even pronounce the name. I'm serious. These people need a serious education. They need a serious reason for living that's not destroying other people's property."

Al Pesotine said the vandalism to the archaeological dig jeopardized months of volunteer work and that he’s unsure if the site will be ready for students in the spring.

"We take botanical samples from the features, the cooking areas that they have down there. We analyze what they've eaten, the climate conditions, the type of soil they lives on and it gives us the whole history. Nobody has the history of this area just yet,” said Pesotine.

Anyone with information about the vandalism is asked to call Duryea Police at 570-475-1721.

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