MIDDLETOWN, Ohio, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- An Ohio Historical Society spokesman said an archaeological firm is investigating American Indian artifacts found at sites tabbed for a coke oven facility.
Society spokesman Mark Holbrook confirmed his historical group was informed of the artifact find in Middletown, Ohio, in October by SunCoke Energy Inc., which plans on building a $340 million facility at the discovery sites, the Middletown (Ohio) Journal said Wednesday.
The Gray & Pape archaeological firm said among the hundreds of prehistoric artifacts found at the construction site were fragments of American Indian spearheads and arrowheads.
According to the firm's report, the discovered artifacts date back from 8000 B.C. to 1200 A.D.
Holbrook told the Journal it remained unclear whether SunCoke would attempt to add the site to the National Historic Preservation registry.
"It is up to the property owner to make that application (for the national registry)," Holbrook said. "From the Ohio Historical Preservation Office's standpoint, SunCoke has complied with all of the procedures of the preservation act."
