ITHACA, N.Y. -- Archaeologists from the Binghamton University Public Archaeology Facility, hired by Cornell University to study the proposed site for new athletic fields off of Game Farm Road in the town of Ithaca, recently identified a handful of artifacts tied to the Early Woodland phase of the Finger Lakes' Paleo-Indian culture.

Site inspections identified three small areas with prehistoric artifacts, and a projectile point, chert flakes and shatter were recovered. A Phase 2 site examination will focus on the areas where artifacts have been identified, and more test pits will be dug to determine the site's significance. A related report is expected to be completed in mid-June.

As is customary with such work, data and reports will be reviewed by the New York State Office of Historic Preservation. In addition, Binghamton archaeologists and Cornell project leaders have briefed Cornell's American Indian Program on the initial findings.

The university is proposing to construct four athletic practice fields, a small support building and some parking on 21 acres of a 142-acre site long used by Cornell's Farm Services for agricultural support functions. The fields, which won't be used for intercollegiate competitions or have seats for spectators, will replace some of the university's Alumni Fields that will be lost through the future construction of the Life Science Technology Building.

Binghamton University's Public Archaeology Facility is highly respected for its expertise and body of work, which includes a dig and analyses of artifacts on the former Ezra Cornell estate (today's West Campus at Cornell) in 2002.

Details on its findings off of Game Farm Road have been provided to the town of Ithaca, which will begin discussion of the proposed athletic fields project in the coming weeks.