IUP Students Find Human Artifacts From 8,000 Years Ago Near Blairsville

BLAIRSVILLE, Pa. (KDKA) -- Indiana University of Pennsylvania students doing an archaeological dig near the Conemaugh River found something they did not expect.

They knew the Newport Village site was settled by Europeans in the late 1700s.

But the students also found evidence of humans who lived there 8,000 years ago.

"How much history is right in our backyard that we never think about is an important thing for people to be aware of," Dr. Ben Ford from IUP said.

They have dug up pieces of stone debris on the site near Blairsville.

They spent six weeks on the scene.

Those students will continue to study those artifacts during the coming school year.