The UNL Campus Archaeology Project
Introduction
The UNL Campus Archaeology Project is a collaborative initiative involving faculty, students, and alumni that focuses on analyzing and re-examining historic collections from past excavations on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus. The project has studied artifacts from three campus sites excavated between 1997 and 2001: 1) a cistern near the Student Union (25LC86); 2) a former neighborhood near the Kauffman Dormitory (25LC156); and 3) household privies uncovered during the construction of the Ross Film Theater (25LC181).
The archaeological collections contain a wide range of artifacts, including glass bottles, ceramics, metal objects, personal belongings, and animal bones. The artifacts reflect late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century households, before the area became part of the university. This area was home to middle- and lower middle-class households. The neighborhood consisted of modest homes, many of them rentals, with frequent turnover among residents. The material culture offers a glimpse into daily life in a “frontier” settlement. The village of Lancaster, later renamed Lincoln, became Nebraska’s capital in 1867 and grew rapidly.
The expansion of the city and the university led to significant changes in the local community, with some neighborhoods shifting from residential to more commercial use around the turn of the 20th century. By analyzing artifacts from three sites dating to this period, alongside historical records such as Sanborn Fire Insurance maps, city directories, and census data, we can make meaningful comparisons between these areas—all located within what is now the UNL city campus.
Ordinary objects provide insight into daily routines and experiences, particularly for individuals and households that are underrepresented in written records. They also reflect patterns of migration, as people moved to Lincoln from other regions of the United States and from abroad in search of opportunity. By examining trade networks and migration patterns, we can better understand the forces that shaped the city around the turn of the twentieth century. These collections also support local and regional comparisons, helping to reveal broader trends in the development of similar urban sites across the Great Plains.
The goal of this project is to fully digitize the collections and make them accessible to both researchers and the public. By placing these materials within the broader context of urban growth and industrial change in the Great Plains, the project emphasizes aspects of the past that have received limited attention. The digital archive will offer a new way to explore Lincoln’s history through its material remains, identifying patterns and connections across the collection. In doing so, it supports research, education, and public understanding of the region’s past while helping to preserve these resources for the future.
