LOWELL, Mass.—Six UMass Lowell students will learn about Irish-American history as they excavate the site of a 19th century Irish settlement in Lowell.
The archaeological dig is a collaboration between the university's Center for Irish Partnerships and Queen's University in Northern Ireland.
The students will be led by visiting archeologists from Queen's University as they excavate and catalog artifacts at the St. Patrick's Church site. Irish canal workers built the church in 1831 and lived on the land.
The excavation team expects to find items such as clay pipes, dishes and hearth remnants that will provide clues about the lives of the Irish who emigrated to Lowell during Ireland's Great Famine.
The dig is set to begin Aug. 16.
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