By Gary Lloyd
The Trussville City Council last week approved of Mayor Gene Melton entering into an agreement with the University of Alabama for professional archaeological services at the new football stadium site.
Melton was still waiting on paperwork from the Army Corps of Engineers to sign last week, but once the paperwork goes through, it should take 30 to 45 days for the dig, he said.
The city council voted to agree to pay the University of Alabama an amount not to exceed $142,577.24 for the archaeological dig, which will take place at the stadium site behind the Trussville Civic Center on Trussville-Clay Road.
Melton said once the dig is complete, any artifacts discovered will be taken to the University of Alabama and the city and Trussville City Board of Education will be “turned loose” to build the new football stadium, which will be named Hewitt-Trussville Stadium. The field will be called Husky Field.
The archaeological study began after researchers found evidence of a prehistoric settlement at the stadium site, finding things such as stone-made tools and man-made pottery. Hewitt-Trussville High School students will be able to participate in the archaeological dig to learn about Native American history, a learning experience coordinated through science teacher David Dobbs.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.