A packed house was on hand as Floyd Mansberger revealed his archaeological findings. (WJBC File Photo)

By Andy Dahn

BLOOMINGTON – The McLean County Museum of History had a full house Saturday, as archaeologist Floyd Mansberger revealed his findings from a July excavation of the Lincoln era courthouse. Among discovered artifacts were pieces of the 1836 courthouse, bottles of medicine, writing utensils, and several types of ammunition. Mansberger said each item tells a special story, with some tracing back to Abraham Lincoln.

"This is part of the eighth judicial circuit and Lincoln traveled that circuit on a regular basis," Mansberger said. "He and others weren't here for great lengths of time, but this and all of the other courthouses on this circuit played a big role in forming who he became."

Another story that can be told through the artifacts is what went on in the jail below the old courthouse.

"One particular artifact doesn't quite tell it completely," said Mansberger. "But when you take the ceramics, and put it with all the bone that's found, and the diet, and then see all of the rat skulls down there, you start putting things together. Those lawyers were up there with all of the nice things, but there were tons of rats down there."

Mansberger said while there were no monumental discoveries, the findings are like pieces of a big puzzle.

"We as archaeologists look at assemblages of things," Mansberger said. "And it's all of the little things together that really make it neat. It's how it all clicks and comes together that shows us these great pieces of history. So it isn't really one little thing that is interesting to us, it's the collection of those things."

So what was this dig like in the middle of Downtown Bloomington?

"People from the young to the old were extremely interested in what was being done," Mansberger said. "It was a great opportunity to interact with the public while doing archaeology."

Also announced Saturday was the official opening date of the museum's Cruisin' with Lincoln on 66 visitors center, which will open April 25th.

Andy Dahn can be reached at [email protected].