The Oklahoma Anthropological Society is a nonprofit organization. The society has been doing archaeological digs since the 1970s.

The most recent dig took place at the historic Ft. Washita site. The event was from September 19 to 24, 2016. This excavation is the third one Oklahoma has done this year.

The building in question was thought to be a Blacksmith shop. The OAS has been excavating the site since May of 2015. After doing some digging they uncovered stone foundation with wood floors.

“The first clue that it was not a Blacksmith shop was that the wood floors would have burnt down in 20 seconds flat”, said Amanda Regnier the new Director of the Oklahoma Archeological Survey beginning in 2016. The running theory is the building was a wagon shop.

This is just a theory for now because the excavating is not finished.

Regnier said she believes it is a wagon shop because since they started excavating they found a lot of cut and broken pieces of metal, most of them were pieces of wagons. The pieces of metal were from the harness to hook horses onto the wagons and parts of the wheel hub.

She said it would make sense that it was a wagon shop because there was a corral for animals and it would be easier to be near the animals if a person needed to hitch them up.

The Archeological Historical Society is open to anyone. No experience is necessary. To join register on the Oklahoma Anthropological Society website or on site at the dig.

The Oklahoma Anthropological Society excavates two sites a year. Not just at Ft. Washita, but all over the state. The last dig took place in Ponca City, OK.

Scott Hammerstedt who is also a staff member of the Oklahoma Archeological Survey said the digs really depend on where the faculty of OAS wants to work.

 For more information or to learn more about when and where an excavation is taking place students can visit the OAS Facebook page.