An unexpected discovery was made this week in downtown Iowa City.

A mural was uncovered when the former Wells Fargo bank building was being torn down by construction crews on the Ped-Mall. The 1970′s era mural on a neighboring building depicts three bison, which have been covered up since the 1980′s.

“It’s like a time capsule,” said Donna Friedman, the former University of Iowa arts professor who helped craft the painting. “I can’t believe how good of shape it’s in.”

Friedman and her students started painting various murals around downtown during the mid 70′s.  Friedman said it was an effort to “spruce” up downtown during a construction renewal period.

Construction of the 14-story building will likely re-cover the mural, but developers are looking at ways of preserving at least part of it.

Andrea Ferrigno of Iowa City takes a photo of a mural of three buffalo, that is part of a larger mural that was painted in the 70's, Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012 on the pedestrian mall in downtown Iowa City. The mural was uncovered when the former Wells Fargo bank building was torn down to make way for a new 14 story building. (Brian Ray/The Gazette-KCRG)