Researchers in Pennsylvania solved a mystery from history.

In 1781, the American Revolution turned a corner. Great Britain’s army surrendered at the Battle of Yorktown. Where did the captured soldiers go?

Many went to Camp Security.

Historians knew some about this prison camp. It held around 1,200 men. The British National Archives preserved a list of inmates’ names.

But the prison’s location was lost.

Historians placed it near York, Pennsylvania. In 1979, researchers found evidence nearby. They dug up buckles, buttons, and other things belonging to British soldiers.

Pennsylvania’s government purchased the land. It bought 47 acres. That’s a lot of ground to cover.

Researchers used metal detectors. They scanned 28 acres. That narrowed the search to eight acres. Then they dug trenches. They were looking for evidence buried by time.

That’s when they found . . . drumroll please . . .

Empty holes!

These holes formed a pattern. And that pattern told a story.

Long ago, the holes held tall wooden posts. Those posts formed a security stockade (a tall fence made of logs).

They had found the walls of Camp Security.

“This has been a long project,” says Carol Tanzola. She led fundraising for the project. “To finally see it come to fruition . . . that’s wonderful.”

That’s one mystery solved. Still, questions remain.

“Was it circular or square? What’s inside? What’s outside?” asks John Crawmer. He’s the project’s lead archaeologist. He hopes to find even more artifacts soon.

Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to treasure hidden in a field. (Matthew 13:44) When a man finds the treasure, he sells everything to buy the field. Pennsylvania purchased 47 acres to find Camp Security. Now that purchase has revealed a treasure of history.

Why? Searching diligently may seem burdensome. But some discoveries are worth the effort!