Amanda Brainard digs into the ground at Walnut Grove at the Fenton History Center, located at 67 Washington St. Brainard is one of the volunteers for the Walnut Grove Archaeological dig. P-J photo by Dennis Phillips

Who knows what the next big discovery is that will be found during the archaeological dig in Walnut Grove at the Fenton History Center.

“That is why we dig,” said Dr. Tom Greer, archaeological dig leader and Fenton trustee.

This will be the eighth year of the archaeological project and the seventh year Greer and volunteers will be digging in Walnut Grove, which is the park that surrounds the Fenton Mansion. During the first seven years, Greer said more than 1,000 artifacts have been uncovered. To date, he said the biggest discovery has been the cistern (or water storage structure) found last year next to where the carriage house used to be, located on the eastern part of the grounds.

“Nobody had an idea that was there. No one knew it had the possibility of existing. We came across it by chance,” he said.

“Hopefully we will get to the bottom this year because the bottom is where the best stuff is.”

Also discovered last year were two coins on the second day of the dig. One coin was an 1860 Indian Head Penny, which Greer said is possibly the oldest item uncovered during the archaeological dig. He said they also found a 1911 King George V Canadian dime. He added that finding both coins on the same day was a rarity because since the beginning of the dig they have only found about six coins altogether.

Greer said once they’re done with the cistern, the archaeological dig will continue around the carriage house. He said they might dig by where the original barn was located as well.

The dig will start again Monday at 10 a.m. rain or shine, Greer said.

“If it’s raining there are some new people this year that we will orient about the plan,” he said.

“There is one high school kid, another young lady who is studying for a degree in anthropology and archaeology at Fredonia and an older guy has expressed an interest.”

Greer said volunteers for the dig vary each summer. He said when a Jamestown Community College anthropology class volunteered during some of the summers there would be about eight each day. However, he said the class that has volunteered the past couple years and there has only been about four volunteers.

The dig will be happening this summer at 9 a.m. every Monday and Tuesday. For those interested in volunteering, call 664-6256.

The archaeological project started during the summer of 2012 when Fenton History Center officials, in conjunction with the State University at Buffalo, conducted an archaeological survey searching for the lost landscape of Fenton’s estate. Evidence of several outerbuildings was discovered.