For eight weeks this summer, three archaeologists and a team of volunteers dug through several feet of dirt next to Dills Tavern in Dillsburg searching for the foundation of Matthew Dill’s original tavern that stood on the site as early as 1750.

They didn’t find it, but their work turned up between 35,000 to 40,000 objects, many dating back to the Colonial days.

Among their finds were 21 British copper coins, two Spanish silver coins, a religious medal, many pieces of pottery, plaster, pieces of window glass and iron nails. The artifacts are being catalogued by archaeologist Steve Warfel, who was in charge of the excavation.

He said after all the items are placed in a database he can look for a pattern to see if there is any change in the way an area of the site was being used....