By John Ostapkovich

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The Independence Seaport Museum opens a new exhibit next Thursday, bringing to light historical objects that, not too long ago, were buried.

As part of its work on a stretch of I-95 from the Vine Street Expressway to Allegheny Avenue, PennDOT hired archeologists who dug through the centuries, recovering artifacts from ancient arrowheads to industrial era goods.

“History and archeological sites are still there awaiting to be discovered, especially along the waterfront and if we don’t do it and as citizens we’re not vigilant about doing it, they can be lost forever to some of these projects that are going in,” says Megan Grimm-Atwood, the museum’s exhibits manager.

Some of the best finds will be displayed in the exhibit Digging the City: Archaeological Discoveries from the Philadelphia Waterfront.

Grimm-Atwood, says items are displayed to highlight multiple relationships. “Even though this exhibit is organized chronologically, in the same places you’ll find objects from different eras. In one 3×3 foot space, you could find things that are from multiple periods and so those kinds of storylines will be parallel.”

Historical objects on loan will provide some extra context. The exhibit runs through early next February and can be seen with regular museum admission.