Dig lured history buffs to Pineywoods

By midmorning, voices, laughter and the sound of shovels scraping at smooth earth arise from deep within the Davy Crockett National Forest in Houston County.

Emerging from a bend in the trail, the thick hues of green and brown are interrupted by colorful groups of individuals who have traveled to this prehistoric spot in the woods from all corners of the nation, clustering around and beneath bright blue tarps.

Each is a participant of the Passport in Time archaeological program with the U.S. Forest Service.