Some of Canalside's rich history is coming to the surface, and the public is invited to watch.
Archeologists from the University at Buffalo are searching for artifacts in the foundation of a historic building just steps from the waterfront.
From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, members of the public will be able to watch the archeologists as they work on the site, bounded by Main and Hanover streets - between First Niagara Center and the old Memorial Auditorium site - and ask them questions specific to the area or about archeology in Buffalo in general.
The site is less than a block from where the Erie Canal once was, and archeologists believe that the artifacts found there tell a story about the way people lived in Buffalo during a significant time in the city's history. The canal was an important commercial route, and the archeologists are trying to educate visitors to the site about its past.
Most of the artifacts are from the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s, and include bottles, plates and an old toy, said project manager Nathan Montague, a historian and archeologist. They will be catalogued and held for future use, possibly for a museum, he said.
The building that is being excavated is thought to have been built in the 1830s and was torn down in about 1970, he said. It once stood four stories tall and was made of brick. It was used to support the activities on the canal and included warehousing storage, a tinsmith, a wholesale grocer, shops, a tailor and lodging.
"The building was part of a neighborhood at the center of Buffalo's economy," Montague said Sunday. "A lot of commerce came through there."
The area became a "Little Italy" in the early 1900s.
Archeologists have dug as far as they believe is safe and will be looking for artifacts Wednesday, Montague said.
Digging deeper would require more time at the site, he said.
UB won a grant from the Erie Canal Harbor Development Corp. to excavate the site, as part of Canalside's visitor experience program.
Wednesday marks the eighth and final day this summer that archeologists will be at the site. Montague said he hoped to be able to return to the site for further exploration next year.
No comments:
Post a Comment