On a grassy hill near the Rancocas Creek in Burlington County, archaeologists and amateurs are working together to uncover Timbuctoo, a once-thriving community of freed and escaped slaves who left behind items that tell an American story. This summer, Chris Barton, a doctoral student at Temple and the site's director, worked with colleagues and students from Temple and descendants of Timbuctoo settlers to uncover the framework of houses and a collection of everyday items that make up a household: dishes, cosmetics, bottles and toys. "These places have a significant amount of value for archaeologists, but they also have a real connection to people, to communities," said Barton.