I just found out that I will be living in New York City this summer, and thought it would be fun to look into the archaeology of the city. So much of our class has been focused on tribal communities and more open landscapes, that I thought it would be very interesting to looks at how an urban archaeology is conducted, the different kinds of artifacts it yields and the different interpretations that can be drawn.

I thought this article from the New York Times gives a great little introduction to the archaeology of NYC, especially for the general public who may not be familiar with the field. I enjoyed their use of personal stories and I think it makes archaeology much more accessible for the uninitiated. By referring to specific artifacts, such as a broken bottle, and by placing the objects in their context on a cartoon map of the city, the article allows the reader to identify with the archaeological sites, both physically and geographically. I also like the interactive nature of the map, and think that the pop up descriptions show visitors how information can be drawn from the smallest artifact, such as a goat horn, or the most subtle changes in soil.

However, I wish the site enabled those interested by these projects to learn more about the digs. For example, it would have been great if readers could click on the blurbs to get more information and links to other sources or sites about the projects. This way the article would appeal to both the casual reader and those who want more in-depth information. I also have to look down upon the title, which uses key buzz words (“Raiders” – which makes me think  of Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, and “Lost City” – which sensationalizes New York’s colonial past) to grab the reader’s attention and set the reader up for a tale of adventure and treasure. But especially in such a populated urban area, this article really gets the viewers to consider archaeology and think about their surroundings in a new way.

I also found this fun walking tour of the city’s early history through archaeology if anyone else is going to be in the city over the summer!