Fall 2021 - Archaeological investigation ends

As demolition work has continued on the old Upper Arlington High School this summer, so did investigations into the Pleasant Litchford family cemetery site.

This summer’s investigative work happened in two phases.  In late June/early July, archeologists conducted another search around the perimeter of the science wing.  This search allowed the team to look more closely at the earth right up next to the foundation of the building and to investigate areas in which a search dog had alerted.  During this work, the archeologists found another partially exhumed grave that contained bone fragments.

In mid-September, the science wing was demolished and the team of archeologists and K9 specialists returned to the site to search the part of the cemetery that had been covered by that section of the building.  During two days of work no additional graves were located.  The team and descendants of the Litchford family agreed that this brought to a close the phase of physical investigations at the site.