CHRYSALIS ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONSULTANTS Cultural Resource Specialists

Transcription

1 CHRYSALIS ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONSULTANTS Cultural Resource Specialists August 25, 2008 To: Re: Sam A. Haffey, AIA, PE Haffey Architects & Engineers 260 Fifth Avenue New York, New York Phone: (212) Fax: (917) Technical Brief Memo for: 79 Christopher Street, New York, New York Burial Project Dear Mr. Haffey: The following is a Technical Memo describing the activities undertaken at your request at 79 Christopher Street, New York, New York during June and July This memo describes activities completed in the field relative to the excavation and removal of the skeletal remains of eight (8) individuals from within Burial Vault Number 6 at the above mentioned property and archaeological monitoring of the excavation of Burial Vaults Numbers 2 and 3. This memo serves as the final report for this project as a formal report was not required. CAC appreciates the opportunity that HAE, provided by requesting our services in conjunction with this project. Sincerely, Alyssa Loorya, M.A, R.P.A., President

2 79 Christopher Street, New York, New York Burial Vault Project On June 24, 2008, Haffey Architects & Engineers (HAE) contacted Chrysalis Archaeological Consultants (CAC) and requested services to undertake archaeological monitoring and, if necessary, excavation of the burial vaults located within the basement and backyard of 79 Christopher Street, New York, New York (Image 01). 1 Throughout the project, CAC preformed several tasks including: 1. Consultation with the City of New York Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC), Saint John s Evangelical Lutheran Church, The New York City Presbytery and the Episcopal Diocese of New York. 2. Undertook archaeological monitoring of Burial Vaults 2 and 3 within the basement of the structure at 79 Christopher Street. 3. Undertook archaeological excavation of in situ human remains from within Burial Vault 6 located in the backyard of the property. 4. Began initial sorting of the human and cultural material remains recovered. It should be noted that this work was not continued or completed as per the direction of the property owner. 1. Coordination: CAC coordinated with the property owner, HAE, LPC and Saint John s Evangelical Lutheran Church, The New York City Presbytery and the Episcopal Diocese of New York to begin the process of determining: a) Who was buried within Burial Vault 6 b) How many burials were within Burial Vault 6, based on documentary records c) Excavation methodology and scope of work d) What was to become of the human and material remains recovered (i.e. potential for reinterment). Throughout the process CAC kept the property owner, HAE and LPC informed of any actions and recovery of materials (human and cultural). Only initial contacts with the various church organizations were completed as the focus of the two week project was on the removal of the burial remains itself. 1 Note: All images are located in Appendix A of this report.

3 2. Monitoring: CAC monitored the removal of earthen material from within Burial Vaults 2 and 3 within the basement of the property. No human or other cultural resource remains were recovered from within these two vaults. It appears that the original contents were removed, as indicated by information provided by St. John s. This likely at some time during the 1860s, when the existing structure was constructed. Two Standardized Test Pits (STPs) were excavated within Burial Vault 1. The STPs were excavated to a depth of between (approximately) fifty to seventy-five (50-75) centimeters below the surface depth excavated by the construction to determine if the potential that human and/or material remains might still be present. No significant material remains were recovered and no evidence of burials was uncovered. See Images 02 through Excavation: At the request of the property owner and the LPC, CAC excavated the remains (human and cultural) from within Burial Vault 6 (Images 5 through 14). An estimated total of eight (8) individuals were recovered including at least three (3) children and potentially five (5) adults. Burial Vault 6 measured approximately six feet by eight feet and initially extended to a depth of six feet measured from the interior ceiling of the burial vault. Removal of the human remains extended the depth another two feet for a total of eight feet below the ceiling of the burial vault. A set of five bluestone capped brick stair treads led into the Vault. However, access during excavation was via a ladder accessed through a hole cut into the roof of the Vault. Based upon the interior, the Vault was constructed of red brick and mortar and had a barrel-vaulted ceiling. Based upon initial documentation gathered for the project, the Burial Vaults along the east side of the Church, then St. Matthew s Episcopalian Church, were constructed sometime between 1840 and They were in use until the early 1860s. Burial Vault 6 was owned by the Mildeberger family. Since the closing of the Burial Vault in the 1860s, the contents suffered a great amount of damage due to flooding as a result of poor drainage of the property and a broken sewer pipe. Water damage caused several of the burials to become disarticulated and contributed to an exceptionally poor state of preservation. The disturbance caused the wooden coffins to splinter and scatter throughout the vault area. Several pieces of coffin hardware including nails, copper tacks and decorative fixtures and a coffin name plate were recovered. One set of handles featured a cherub head design. The coffin plate was too corroded to ascertain a name without cleaning and/or conservation efforts.

4 The human remains were excavated in a series of eight areas or levels. The remains were wrapped in archival quality tissue paper and placed in plastic storage boxes for interim storage. Excavation indicated clear evidence of stacking. Burials were laid west to east with adult interments occupying the northern half of the vault and children occupying the southern half. Image 15 is an in-progress field drawing of the approximate location of seven of the eight burials. 4. Initial Sorting: CAC commenced some initial sorting and cleaning but the project was halted by HAE and the property owner. Therefore no formal counts of either the human or material remains were completed and there is no catalog of materials. Current and Future Issues: Storage: The excavation resulted in approximately sixteen plastic boxes containing the human and material remains. The remains are in a fragile state as removing them from a sealed context has exposed them to external elements (Images 16 and 17). Per the direction of the property owner, communicated via HAE, no further sorting or inventory was undertaken. CAC stored the materials until August 23, Following consultation with Bradley Adams of the New York City Medical Examiner office all materials, human and cultural remains, were transferred to Dannecker Funeral Home located at 445 West 43rd Street, New York, New York with the understanding that the property owner was making arrangements for their re-interment or cremation (see transfer agreement letter Image 18).

5 APPENDIX A: Field Images

6 Image 01: Site Map provided by HAE

7 Image 02: Burial Vault 1 prior to STP testing Image 03: Burial Vault 1 STP testing

8 Image 04: Burial Vault 1 STP testing (in progress)

9 Image 05: Burial Vault 6 upon initial discovery Image 06: Burial Vault 6 upon initial discovery wooden coffin remains

10 Image 07: Burial Vault 6 excavation Image 08: Burial Vault 6 coffin hardware upon excavation

11 Image 09: Burial Vault 6 excavation of steps Image 10: Burial Vault 6 coffin lid in situ

12 Image 11: Burial Vault 6 excavation Image 12: Burial Vault 6 excavation

13 Image 13: Burial Vault 6 excavation Image 14: Burial Vault 6 excavation

14 Image 15: Initial in-field rough site map of burial locations (note Burial #8 has yet to be drawn on the field map).

15 Image 16: Burial Vault 6 human remains Image 17: Burial Vault 6 human remains

16 Image 18: Transfer Memo of all remains