Posted on 03/21/2007 8:21:32 PM PDT by Mo1
INDEPENDENCE MALL - March 21, 2007 - It's happening in the shadow of the Liberty Bell. They've begun digging up the earth, searching for the signs of slavery.
Crews are unearthing history on Independence Mall, digging where George Washington lived in 1790 when Philadelphia was the nation's capital. Digging above the quarters of Washington's 9 enslaved Africans, just feet from from the new Liberty Bell Pavilion entrance.
"So as you walk into this heaven of liberty, you literally have to cross the hell of slavery," said attorney Michael Cord.
Cord lead the fight for this archeological dig when, during construction of the pavilion 5 years ago, crews found artifacts pointing to the slave quarters. At the time, the National Park Service declined the dig, saying it's mission is preservation.
"This marks the beginning of telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth about America," said Cord.
Now, the Park Service supports the historic search for artifacts that could reveal a conflicted U.S. president leading a fight for liberty on one hand while holding slaves captive on the other. Those artifacts might help tell those enslaved Africans' stories.
People can watch the dig from an observation deck and soon via webcam.
The findings will be housed in a permanent president's house exhibition on the site. The city is funding the 1.5-million dollar project.
"I'm here today because we're digging for the truth. Digging for truth about start of this country and the great tragedy of slavery, which effects everything we do in this country even today," said Mayor John Street.
The painstakingly careful and slow dig will take about 6 weeks. Archeologist expect to reach the 18th century about 8-10 feet down, and hopefully begin to uncover some history untold.
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