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A Brief History of Archeology in Independence National Historical Park

Beginning in the early 1950’s, archeologists began sifting the soil beneath what is now Independence National Historical Park to help inform and guide the development of a new national park commemorating the people and sites related to the birthplace of the nation. These early efforts were followed by more than eighty archaeological studies that included countless hours spent monitoring the planting of trees, installation of pipelines, fences, and other park construction projects. Directed at first as research to aid restoration and rehabilitation, later undertakings were conducted in response to passage of the National Historic Preservation Act in 1966,­­­­ and, increasingly – especially more recently – by public interest in uncovering hidden histories. Over the past seventy years, virtually every corner of the park has been subject to archaeological examination, whether it be in backyards, park squares, basements, or the three-block expanse of Independence Mall — once the location of hundreds of 18th, 19th, and 20th century buildings that were demolished to make way for the national park. This work has revealed countless foundations, archeological features, and more than 2 million artifacts which, together, tell the story of what life was like in Philadelphia over not just the last several hundred years, but also thousands of years of Native American history.

Independence Park has played an outsized role as both a proving ground and a training ground for American urban historical archaeology. The material results of the work conducted in the park has shaped the experience of millions of park visitors while shaping the careers of three generations of archeologists.  Formative work by Paul Schumacher, Jackson “Smokey” Moore, and Bruce Powell in the search for the physical remains of America’s founding in Independence Square and Franklin Court demonstrated the utility of archeology in an urban setting. After his arrival in 1957, Regional Archeologist John Cotter, later SHA’s first President, played a key role in guiding archeology in the park, and beyond, and, in the process, helped to establish historical archeology as both a valuable tool in park development and as a respected academic discipline.

Steady work continued for the next two decades, with the 1970’s witnessing such milestones as the landmark work of Betty Cousans and Barbara Liggett who excavated much of Franklin Court in preparation for the opening of the site in the Bicentennial year. It was during this time, too, that the Park served as a training ground for many young archaeologists, either through what we now know as CRM archaeology, but also through projects involving university students from the University of Pennsylvania and Temple University. It was here that Dan Roberts, Mike Parrington, Dan Crozier and many, many, others left their mark on the archaeology of Independence Park.

In the last 25 years, Independence has taken on its largest archaeological projects with the redevelopment of Independence Mall. Beginning in the late 1990’s, this three-block, Section 106 compliance project in the heart of the park involved major excavations at the sites of what are now the Liberty Bell Center, the Independence Visitor Center, and the National Constitution Center. The latter project involved the investigation of an area of over 100,000 square feet and saw the recovery of more than one million artifacts.  This immense project sparked the creation of a new public archaeology lab at the park, which welcomed tens of thousands of people a year into the Lab to learn about archaeology and its contributions to understanding Native American, colonial, and federal-period history. A large and successful volunteer program housed in the lab was awarded, by First Lady Michelle Obama, the 2010 Advisory Council on Historic Preservation’s Preserve Americas Steward designation in recognition of the park’s commitment to volunteerism and historic preservation.

Recent archeological work has continued the long tradition, established during work in 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s, of public engagement with archeology in the park. Through signage, public talks, temporary and permanent archeology exhibits, and volunteer opportunities, the park has maintained an on-going relationship with a diverse and enthusiastic public. Most recently at the James Dexter home site, excavated in 2003, and at the President’s House site in 2007, viewing platforms allowed park visitors to observe on-going excavation and offered the opportunity to interact with archeologists. More than a quarter of a million people visited the President’s House site during the excavations there and learned about the intertwined history of the first two US presidents and the enslaved people who lived and labored there during President George Washington’s tenure.

For nearly three quarters of a century Independence Park has maintained a continuous tradition of archeological excavation, interpretation, and public engagement in a national park in the heart one of the nation’s great cities.  Independence National Historical Park can truly be called one of the places where urban historical archeology came of age.

Written mainly by Jed Levin, NPS, January, 2022.


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