Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
WESTERN UTAH -- In 1889, a group of Hawaiians moved from the Wasatch Front to Skull Valley in Utah's West Desert.
They called the place Iosepa. This summer, anthropology students from New York are learning more about the settlement -- which survived for 30 years.
The public is invited to visit the site on Saturday, July 17, for Public Archaeology Day.
The students from State University of New York at Potsdam have uncovered what looks to be an old foundation and artifacts, including a piece of jewelry made of a sea shell.
Assistant Professor of Anthropology Benjamin Pykles said, "That reminds us why we're here and it reminds us these were real people here -- actual Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and they've come all this way, here in the middle of this desert, and they're making a living for themselves."
The Iosepa dig site is located off Interstate 80 in Tooele County. Drivers take Exit 77, then go south on State Road 196.
