A Kalona native took part in a recent archaeological dig on the University of Iowa campus.

A construction crew working on the flood mitigation effort discovered the foundation of a building, leading the Office of the State Archaeologist to get involved.

Rick Beckley is originally from Kalona and took part in the dig, which wrapped up earlier this week. He says they discovered limestone and brick foundations likely part of buildings constructed by Iowa City’s earliest settlers. Other findings include ceramic fragments, pig bones and coins.

They’re now in the process of dating the artifacts. Beckley says they expect them to be around 175 years old.

He adds that as the mitigation work continues on campus, they anticipate findings similar to this one.