Archaeologists: D.C. Capitol May Have Once Been Used For Legislating

WASHINGTON—Calling the discovery the “clearest proof yet” of how the U.S. government was originally designed to function, archaeologists published new evidence Thursday that suggests the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., may have once been used for legislating.

In their academic paper, the researchers wrote that the sprawling, 540-room marble complex contained conclusive proof that a distinct political entity known as “the legislative branch” once existed specifically to serve the American people. The site, located on Capitol Hill, was reportedly used for centuries as a place to pass laws, uphold the U.S. Constitution, and represent the interests of voters. 

“Thanks to our latest findings, we now know that early citizens of the United States had a more nuanced system of government than previously thought,” said Professor Lee Somers, director of the site excavation, who added that the 1.5-million-square-foot building was used for over 200 years as a hub of American democracy until the experiment was ultimately abandoned. “While we previously believed the legislative branch was largely a symbolic office, artifacts within the rotunda, basement, and chambers show that it was at one point a legitimate part of the government that decided how federal money was spent, when tariffs should be imposed, how to regulate commerce, and when to declare war.” 

“Walking through the empty halls, you can almost feel the spirits of elected officials who were willing to fight for millions of everyday Americans,” Somers added. “But that was many years ago.”

Using a combination of lidar, traditional excavation techniques, and ancient maps of Washington, D.C., as a guide, the archaeologists confirmed they were able to enter the Statuary Hall, pass through several empty offices, and explore the House and Senate floors where men and women once enacted meaningful legislation to defend constitutional rights such as the freedoms of speech, religion, and assembly.

Once inside, the researchers said, they were able to identify dozens of historically significant artifacts, including bills, lecterns, and gavels dating back to the first-ever Congress.

The team described a moment of elation when they found a perfectly preserved shred of paper that read “all legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States,” which they said was a critical piece of evidence linking the legislative branch to the U.S. Constitution.

“For so long, we thought this kind of government structure only existed abroad,” said Somers, adding that archaeologists were stunned to find that the legislative branch was once part of a sophisticated system of “check and balances.” “We’d expect to find something like it in Athens or Rome. But we were shocked to learn that elected officials once stood within these halls to champion the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act, as well as the Thirteenth Amendment, and it all happened right in our backyard.”

“Yes, it was primitive, but it was still a democracy,” Somers continued. “Until, of course, it wasn’t.”

The archaeologists confirmed plans to work with an architectural firm and local residents to preserve the excavation site and convert it into an exhibition about the last vestiges of democracy in the United States.  

“I’ve lived here my whole life, and I had no idea what this building was,” D.C. resident Tonya Schmidt said. “I always thought it was a bank or something. I can’t wait to go inside and see what an effective form of representation actually looked like.”

“I’m so excited archaeologists came here,” she added. “Who knows what lost branches of government we’ll discover next.”

The post Archaeologists: D.C. Capitol May Have Once Been Used For Legislating appeared first on The Onion.