FAQ
Who is doing the archaeological work and what are their qualifications?
Archaeologists from AECOM are excavating the site. AECOM’s archaeologists adhere to established professional standards and practices and comply with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commissions Guidelines for Archaeological Investigations in Pennsylvania (2016). Assigned senior staff will meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Archaeological Professionals
Who oversees the archaeological work?
Oversight for the archaeological work is performed by the Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office (PA SHPO) and the Philadelphia Historical Commission (PHC)
Will archaeological remains be left in place?
Wherever possible significant archaeological resources will be preserved in place and not impacted by proposed construction. Previously identified significant resources like the shipway will be preserved in place and will not be impacted by construction. Construction plans were designed to avoid impact know significant resources.
What happens if archaeological remains cannot be preserved in place?
Where impacts cannot be avoided, disturbance to significant resources will be mitigated by means of thorough archaeological documentation using state of the art technologies and data gathering techniques. This includes mapping and drawing, LiDAR (3D-mapping), photogrammetry and traditional photography. In this way the information contained within the site is preserved.
What happens to the artifacts that are recovered?
Recovered artifacts will be cleaned and cataloged by AECOM and then will be curated with the Pennsylvania Historical Museums Commission (PHMC) in Harrisburg. The PHMC has the ability to designate a local repository if it meets it curatorial standards, or can loan the collection back out the a local facility for interpretation to the public.