Archeologist Christine Davis shows artifacts collected from the former Graham farm in Cranberry Township to members of Cub Scout Troop 360. Davis' company collected thousands of artifacts during an archeological survey on 115 acres that Cranberry Township bought for use as a new municipal park. The artifacts included Native American arrowheads, parts of spears and pottery shards.

CRANBERRY TWP — The history of Cranberry Township became a little clearer recently thanks to the excavation of a local farm that will serve as the township's newest park.

Along with a cranberry bog for which the township was named, the excavation turned up ancient artifacts.

An archaeological study of nine separate sites on the Graham family farm yielded artifacts that dated between 1,000 B.C. and 95 A.D., according to Christine Davis, of Christine Davis Consultants Inc. in Verona, Allegheny County.

Her firm was hired by the township to perform the mandatory archeological survey when the township bought the property from the Graham family with the plan to convert the farm into the township's third municipal park.

The township in April 2003 bought the 115 acres from township residents Eugene and Mary Louise "Dee" Graham from a portion of the family farm off Rochester Road near the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The family's ancestors had a hand in settling the township.

Township supervisors have developed the master plan for the new Graham Park. Earth moving is scheduled to begin in 2007, and the first recreational activities are projected to occur in late 2008.

Township parks and recreation director Mike Diehl said the discoveries in the township's newest park have shed new light on the history of the area.

It was always believed the area was a prime hunting ground and a place to gather food because of the cranberry bogs. But materials at the site indicated much more trading also went on there.

The cranberry bogs formed in the area when glaciers melted, forming a large lake that eventually drained and left fertile damp soils for the cranberries to thrive.

The cranberry bogs disappeared when farmers began to drain them to grow crops.

The remnants of the cranberry bog were found under several feet of topsoil that was overturned onto the bogs, said Diehl.

Arrowheads made from materials native to the Yellowstone Park area and Flint from Ohio indicated early Native American groups called Mound Builders traveled in family units and would inhabit the area for months at a time, said Diehl.

Because the area was near several prominent Native American trails, including the Venango Path, the township also was a place to trade materials and goods, but never really developed into a permanent settlement as most Native Americans chose to live near the rivers.

More than 3,000 items, including arrowheads, parts of spears, tools, and pottery were found. Some crude arrowheads were also found, which at first puzzled investigators. However, it is now believed that those arrowheads were fashioned by children, who were taught the skill by their elders with materials that couldn't be used to make a real weapon, Diehl said.

Many of the items were sent to the state's museum in Harrisburg. A number of the items, however, will be featured in a traveling display case that the Cranberry Area Historical Society will use in its historic lessons about the township.The display case is hinged to open into several panels that feature a map of the area and some of the artifacts, including arrowheads and other pieces of tools found on the farm. The historical society is hoping to take the display into schools to teach students the early history of Cranberry Township.Lesson plans and hand-out materials are also being developed for use by teachers, said Diehl.Though the display will be in the municipal center on Rochester Road until the end of spring, it will later become a permanent feature of the Sample School one-room schoolhouse in front of the township's municipal center.The master plan for the park includes several separated campuses that divide the active sport fields. Much of the park is also designed for passive use with walking trails and small shelters.The first section of the park will feature baseball/softball fields, the second a soccer complex and the final will be dominated by football fields.Township officials estimate the cost to build the entire park, excluding the main recreational building, will be between $13.5 and $14 million. The first phase of the construction will cost about $5 million.

This map illustrating the early history of Cranberry Township was presented to the Cranberry Area Historical Society by archeologist Christine Davis of Christine Davis Consultants Inc. The company, which was hired to perform an archeological survey of the former Graham farm, found thousands of artifacts left by Native Americans.