Chelmsford Student Seeks Clues to the Past in Archeological Dig

Local UMass Lowell student and Chelmsford resident Katie Henckler got a first-hand look at her own history last week when she participated in an archeological dig at St. Patrick's Church with UMass Lowell.

Henkler, a criminal justice major who will graduate next May, said her participation comes as she is interested in Irish history. She plans to seek her Master's degree at UMass Lowell after she graduates.

"My family came from Ireland and I like Lowell history ... so it's more of a family connection," she said.

Henkler and other students from the university helped dig for artifacts, measure and record them. Professors from Queen's University in Belfast, Ireland also led the dig as part of the university's partnership.

Next month, the UMass Lowell students will travel to Northern Ireland to dig at the site of the former homestead of Hugh Cummiskey, who led the first group of Irish laborers on the 30-mile walk from Boston to Lowell.

"We've found glass and pottery that looks brand new, you still can still see designs," she said. "We found some bone that was butchered so you can tell the people who were on this land were getting food from a market." 

Other artifacts found in the ground include a pipe and thimble that dates back to the early 19th Century.

Professor Frank Talty said the students get a chance to see the science side of archeology and a history lesson as well.

"History is a big piece of it ... and they get a chance to see the science side with the recording of what they find too," he said.

This is the third year UMass Lowell students are digging at St. Patrick's. The school has one year left on its contract with St. Patrick's for the dig.