ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — Digging, sifting and searching, that’s what is happening at the Castillo de San Marcos as archaeologist excavate small areas near the fort.
National Park Service offices flooded during Hurricane Matthew. Before temporary offices can be built, NPS archaeologist are looking underground.
"Any type of ground-disturbing activities, archeologists have to check it out first,” said archaeologist Jeffery Shanks.
Shanks said first they used ground-penetrating radar to look through the soil. They then slowly started digging and found artifacts, such as pieces of a plate and handmade nails that could be from 1650 to 1750.
There was also something else.
“For example, we got an irrigation pipe through there that looks like an iron pipe from the '30s,” said Shanks.
Shanks said they think they will be able to put the temporary buildings on this land.
They will refill any holes with the same dirt, and even saved the sod to cover it up.