LEWISTON – If you see people poking through the ruins of the former Libbey Mill this spring, don’t call the cops.

Pamela Crane and Peter Morrison, a pair of professional archaeologists from Freeport, plan to embark on the first phase of what they promise will be a thorough historical examination of a critical piece of the city’s urban landscape.

They likely will be joined by students from the University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College.

The couple gave a sneak preview of their project Thursday night during a presentation at Museum L-A at the Bates Mill complex.

Crane and Morrison Archaeology doesn’t dig for dinosaur bones in arid climates. Instead, they’re historical archaeologists, meaning they’re more interested in the spread of European culture and its evolution over time, Morrison said.

Having spent the past two decades learning about earlier civilizations throughout Maine, the couple is teaming up with the local college and museum to delve into Lewiston’s industrial past.

The college will help fund the project, Morrison said, along with in-kind help from the museum. During phase one’s month-long session in May and June, the couple expects to document the surface materials at the point of land that sits on the Great Falls, now owned by the city.

Before they set foot on the site, much of the work will be performed at libraries and other locations where source materials such as maps and photographs can be found. One map Morrison showed Thursday’s audience depicted the layout of mill buildings in 1837.

“We can learn quite a lot out of this,” he said. “We have an awful lot to work with without even digging.”

Once at the site, they will be busy photographing, mapping and documenting anew what they find among the remains of the buildings, Morrison said.

Phase two would occur the following year after a report on phase one is complete.

Although they haven’t explored a mill site before, they’re looking forward to the challenge, Morrison said.

He expects visits from an interested public.

“These kinds of ruins that we’ll be working with do catch the people’s attention,” he said.