Monday, August 21, 2006

Search for Civil War soldier's grave unearths unknown graveyard
The exhumation of a Civil War veteran's grave in northern Illinois has unearthed a mystery graveyard.

Archeologists from the University of Illinois' Public Service Archaeology Program began the dig in July in an oak grove in North Aurora. They were looking for Clark Smith's grave. But by Wednesday, they had found at least 19 other caskets.

Officials say the only record of a graveyard on the site is in an 1871 atlas. One page of the book shows a tiny cross west of a schoolhouse along the road.

Illinois Historic Preservation Agency officials say archeologists are going to research historical records and examine the remains for identifying traits.


Whole thing.