Archaeologists in Louisiana Save Artifacts 12,000 Years Old From Natural Disasters and Looters

Gray Tarry, (bottom L) an archeological field technician for the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, digs on an archeological excavation site in Kisatchie National Forest, La., on June 7, 2023. Gerald Herbert/AP Photo

VERNON PARISH, La.—Long buried under the woods of west central Louisiana, stone tools, spearpoints, and other evidence of people living in the area as long as 12,000 years ago have become more exposed and vulnerable, due to hurricanes, flooding, and looters.

This summer, archaeologists have been gingerly digging up the ground at the Vernon Parish site in the Kisatchie National Forest. They have been sifting through dirt to unearth and preserve the evidence of prehistoric occupation of the area.