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 BV was placed along the southern border of Lot 9 and east of Test Cut BT to test the area for wall footings. No Lovelace Tavern deposits or features were found.
Results: While excavating Test Cuts BT and BX along the southern edge of Lot 9, archaeologists uncovered a few large stones that did not look like those used in the 19th-century lot boundary wall. Archaeologists speculated that these stones were part of the southern wall of the Lovelace Tavern. To see if they were correct, the team excavated a test cut along the Lot 9 boundary wall east of the Tavern's footprint. If the team uncovered similar stones in this location, they were probably not part of the Lovelace wall and visa versa. No stones were found, confirming the team's hypthesis. The stones in Test Cuts BT and BX are now considered part of the southern wall of the Lovelace Tavern. Test Cut BV was excavated by shovel and no artifacts were recovered.
Lot 9, Test Cut BV
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Collection method
Shovel, Trowel. Arbitrary Level.
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Soil description
(No Soil Description Provided)
