Introduction: Lots 8, 9, and 15 are modern designations for adjacent parcels of land that were owned together and used as a single property until the early 1830's. Excavations produced important discoveries like that of the Colonial-era Lovelace Tavern, proving that significant archaeological resources could still exist in urban spaces. Project archaeologists were able to lobby for increased time and funds to continue their work on the strength of these finds, leading to additional discoveries. In all, the project provided considerable information about the history of New York City and its inhabitants from the 17th to the 20th centuries.
The tavern was constructed by the second English Governor of New York, Francis Lovelace, around 1670. Taverns were important spaces for colonial communities, serving as centralized meeting places that fulfilled important social, recreational, political, and economic functions. Lovelace Tavern became New York's temporary City Hall starting in the late-17th century after the Stadt Huys fell into disrepair and was demolished in 1706.
Rationale: Remains of the Lovelace Tavern were first encountered during the excavation of Test Cut AQ. Overall, archaeologists excavated 27 test cuts inside, adjacent to, or within the walls of the tavern, representing around fifty-percent of the total area. Test Cut BX was placed in the extreme southern part of Lot 8 as it hit Pearl Street in an attempt to find the front of the Lovelace Tavern. Though significant 19th- and 20th-century disturbances were found across the test cut, archaeologists did recover the remains of the Tavern's wooden floor and possibly its front stairs. In addition, the Tavern's front wall was discovered 3-inches south of Test Cut BX by probe. BX was expanded to the west (BX1) and to the north (BX2) to further test the area for archaeological resources.
Results: A builder's trench containing footing stones and a large amount of mortar was found in the southernmost 12-inches of the test cut. It is unclear if the trench was used during the construction of the lot wall in the 19th century or the Tavern's front wall in the 17th century. The footing stones are likely from the lot's boundary wall and not from the Lovelace Tavern. The artifacts offered little guidance as the bore sizes of the few pipe stems recovered were manufactured in total between 1620 and 1800. The trench ended at the Tavern floor around 16- to 20-inches below excavation surface.
Lot 8, Test Cut BX, Strata XVI, Level B
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Collection method
Trowel, Screen (1/2-inch mesh).
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Soil description
Brown to Gray Brown Sandy Silt and Mortar
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Munsell
10YR 3/2 - 10YR 3/3
