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Note:
Click on the thumbnail for a full-size picture.
Project
areas shown on a 1794 Albany map by Simeon Dewitt
Project
area in the median of State Street at the Pearl Street
intersection. [JPG image-20KB]
CRSP
archaeologists working in a trench at the State Street
excavation. [JPG image-20KB]
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Archaeology
of Pearl Street, Albany
Project Director:
Dr. Charles Fisher
Project years: 1998-present
keywords: Albany, New York archaeology,
Revolutionary War
Geographic Extent: Albany, New York
In 1970,
archaeologists discovered the site of Fort Orange in
Albany, New York. This fort was built by Dutch
fur-traders around 1624 and was later surrounded by a
growing community. Archaeologists identified the fort
when they were testing along the path of a new interstate
highway that would pass through the city. Portions of the
fort were excavated, along with the remains of four
houses inside the fort that provided a wealth of
information about the 17th century occupants. Many of
these artifacts may be viewed in exhibits at Fort Crailo
State Historic Site in Rensselaer.
The discovery
of the fort within a well-developed urban setting
required archaeologists to reconsider the potential for
deeply buried sites within the city. Previous beliefs
about the extent of disturbance within urban areas are no
longer tenable after the discovery of Fort Orange.
Specific information is required before an archaeological
site can be considered destroyed simply because it is
within a city.
The New York
State Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Cultural
Resource Survey (CRSP) of the New York State Museum began
the current study of Pearl Street in relation to the
DOT's plan to reconstruct the street and build new
sidewalks. Archaeological sites may be found where
constructing new drainage facilities and replacing other
buried utilities will require deeper excavations under
the street. A background study completed in September of
1997 identified locations within the proposed project
where historic remains may be found.
Archaeologists
have excavated different parts of Pearl Street. You can
find more information on three of these excavations by
clicking on the following links.
 Norton Street
Excavations
Howard Street
Excavations
State Street
Excavations
Facial Reconstruction
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