Rensselaer Magazine, September 2002: At Rensselaer

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Campus Construction

An archeologist holds one of the old bottles recovered from the dig. Photo by Tom Killips/The Record.

Unearthing History

Archeologists dug up some history this spring on the south side of campus in the parking lots behind Cogswell Laboratory.

Hartgen Archeological Associates, a local firm in Rensselaer County, was hired to recover and document artifacts found at the site where Rensselaer is planning to build a parking garage. The parking facility for approximately 500 cars is part of the university’s $225 million improvement project that also includes a biotechnology center and an experimental media and performing arts center.

The site is of historical interest because of the homes of 19th-century laborers who once lived there. The archeologists unearthed foundations made of brick or bluestone, large beehive cisterns used to collect rainwater, brick-walled ice houses, and the remains of privies lined with wood. Clay pipes, toothbrushes made from bone, and old water bottles, among other artifacts, also were found.

The State Historic Preservation Act, administered through the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, requires an investigation to determine whether an area to be developed is historically significant. If so, an archeological excavation must take place to collect artifacts and identify historical structures.
In June, dozens of local residents visited the site during a public viewing hosted by the architects, who plan to write and publish studies about the site. Papers and artifacts will eventually be turned over to a local public archive.

Rensselaer Magazine: September 2002
President's View	Your Mail	From the Archives	Hawk Talk	Class Notes Features

Front Page	At Rensselaer	Milestones
In Memoriam	Making a Difference	Staying Connected

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