Equipment trailer stolen from Niles non-profit ahead of field school and summer camp

NILES, Mich. -- Fort St. Joseph Archaeological Project President Erika Hartley, reported via Facebook, on the morning of Monday, June 24, when she and her assistant arrived at a site for a survey, they found the trailer, where they store all their archaeology equipment, was gone.

Hartley states the trailer and gate locks were cut and the trailer was taken through the site gate.

The non-profit is now asking for community support, as police continue investigating.

Hartley states they're moving forward with a plan to make sure they have the necessary supplies for the start of field school in less than two weeks.

If you can provide some support, Hartley says the Niles History Center is assisting in this process and donations can be made to them by noting it is for “archaeology.”

Hartley adds there are items you may have around your house waiting to be repurposed, including empty prescription or medicine bottles, perfect for storing small artifacts, and yellow Tidy Cat buckets that they use to collect soil removed from sites to be screened.

Material and monetary donations can be made at the Niles History Center during business hours.

You can also call the Niles History Center at 269-845-4054 to donate, or stop by the Fort St. Joseph Museum, which is open Wednesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Hartley states they're hoping to have a link for online donations available next week.

You can find more information about The Fort St. Joseph Archaeological Project's field school, here, and the Niles History Center, here.