Moravian College has decided to buck the recommendation of state historians and dismantle recently discovered root cellars, which may be as old as Bethlehem, to make way for a $25 million dormitory and classroom building.

The root cellars are in the middle of a footprint for the new building that is scheduled to open next year on the Priscilla Payne Hurd Campus.

''We're committed to honoring and documenting history, but at the same time, we are also committed to safe, affordable and quality housing for students,'' college spokesman Michael Wilson said.