Illinois archaeologists are excavating the remains of an 1851 home owned by a former slave in an effort to get the village of Brooklyn listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Reports indicate the archaeologists are digging up the buried remains of the home of Priscilla Baltimore. Slaves led by Baltimore who fled St. Louis founded the village around 1830. It now has a population of about 650 and its local government depends on revenue from strip clubs.

Excavation leader Joe Galloy says the team hopes to unveil archaeology about 2 feet below the village's surface. He says the strip clubs shouldn't prevent the village from being listed but there isn't enough surviving architecture.

There are about 88,000 historical sites on the national register.