Gold Rush era finds in Sacramento

Last time I did the Gold Rush tour I was a boy on a family trip. So it was a bit of surprise to read that Sutter's Fort, where it all began, is only two miles from Sacramento's state capitol building:

What remains of the fort is now a state historical site that encompasses just one square city block. It is perched one block from a freeway and is surrounded on all sides by modern city life, including a hospital, restaurants and homes.

With such sprawl, then, it's not such a surprise to read about this:

Underneath an intersection next to the fort, however, archaeologists said Thursday that they found another piece of the city's, and California's, history: human remains they believe date to the Gold Rush era.

A skeleton, with shreds of "Western-style clothing" still identifiable, was found inside a deteriorating wooden coffin by construction workers who are plowing underground to build a new medical facility.

Read about this and other finds at Discovery News.

Posted by David on February 16, 2007 5:03 PM