A man searching for Indian artifacts at Falling Creek Iron Works finds something much bigger. Ralph Lovern wanted to find arrowheads or pieces of pottery, but instead he noticed something different.
It was the Iron Works the historical spot he was standing on was named after and he immediately recognized what it was and place a call to the Virginia Historical Society. Archeologist Lyle Browning says it's an incredible find and adds, "The heavy industry in America began on this spot, so it's an enormous find as far as the history of technology goes."
Browning says the timbers haven't been seen since 1622 and were preserved underground since that time. He says the Iron Works was only up and running for about four months until the team of workers was wiped out in the Powhatan Uprising. Historians always knew something was there, but had never uncovered it.
Browning says, "We did a geophysical survey in 200 that showed a massive magnetic anomaly that was consistent with an iron works or with a blast furnace." That means Lovern, who is a history buff, is now a part of history himself. He says, "makes me proud a little bit, something to tell the grandkids, huh?"
The team of archaeologist say they will draw and photograph the timbers, then take them to a museum for preservation.
