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LAST OF MOHICANS SITE DESTROYED (fwd)
Ralph L Holloway (rlh2@COLUMBIA.EDU)
Mon, 11 Mar 1996 23:19:17 -0500
I am forwarding this to those on the list who might like to protest ot at
least be informed of what is happening. It comes from
sci.anthropology.paleo list.
Ralph Holloway
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 11 MAR 96 17:17:29 GMT
From: Concerned <sp@cnsvax.albany.edu>
Newgroups: sci.anthropology.paleo
Subject: LAST OF MOHICANS SITE DESTROYED
LAST OF THE MOHICANS ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE TO BE DESTROYED
A historic, cultural resource of National importance is about to be
destroyed by an electric utility in Lake George, New York. This site should
have been recommended to the National Register as a National Historic Site,
however, this did not take place. The contract archaeologist that mitigated
the property is Jeanette Collamer of Collamer and Associates. Why was this
property not eligible for the Historic Register?
A site is eligible for the National Register if it meets just one or
more of the following criteria: (New York Archaeological Council, article 3.1)
1. Associated with events that have made a significant contribution to
the broad patterns of our history.
2. Associated with the lives of persons significant in our past.
3. Embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type or period
4. Has yielded, or may be likely to yield, information in prehistory
or history.
The Lake George historic site meets all of the previous criteria that would
enable it to be eligible for the National Register. It is significant in the
history and culture of New York State as well as the Nation.
The chronological date of this archaeological site is personified by
the movie, The Last of the Mohicans, starring Daniel Day-Lewis as Hawkeye.
The year is 1757 and the battle is raging between the French and English at
Fort William Henry. The French general, the Marquis de Montcalm has 10,000
troops at his disposal. Montcalm sends one of his officers, de Levis, to
occupy the elevated ground to the west. Obedient, de Levis positions his
troops on the high ground above the British fort and away from the swamps.
This location is ideal for the encampment of a large number of soldiers.
Clear water is available from a small stream at the base of this rocky
promontory for swabbing down the cannon and for drinking purposes. In
addition, the land is extremely steep on several sides of this defensive
position. This elevated ground would hinder a frontal assault by the
British troops; an attack would be suicidal. The terrain is ideal for de
Levis to set his mortars in place. The cannon are positioned on this uplifted
portion of the landscape, one hundred feet or so above the fort. The battle
is already won because of the topography of this location. The cannon and
mortars pulverize the English position. Fort William Henry is battered into
submission with relentless abandon and loss of life. The Marquis de
Montcalm is victorious this day; the British are defeated at Lake George and
Fort William Henry is burned.
This archaeological site is a pristine historical property. The land
has never been corrupted by the plow or disturbed by man since the French and
Indian War. When the duff layer of pine needles and debris is peeled back on
your excavation units, you have an artifact record of unparalleled
provenience. The feelings that you experience from the material remains takes
you back to the battlefield; you imagine you are at the battle of Lake George.
The landscape is scattered with subsurface remains of hearths, storage pits,
gun parts, coins, lead shot, French flint, brass buttons, cookingware, chunks
of burned wood embedded with handwrought copper nails, contact and woodland
projectile points and human bone fragments.
The most prominent features on this site are the mortar entrenchments.
There are twenty plus mortar pits averaging twelve to fifteen feet in
diameter. The entranceways to these entrenchments are still visible and are
orientated southward from the depressions. Over the years, local residents
have dumped trash in the pits and this has helped to maintain the pristine
integrity of the site. At the bottom of these features, archaeological
litter is commonplace. Artifacts such as pieces of cannon barshot, shattered
artillery implements, and large fragments of burned wood from the fixed
timbered beds of the mortars are typical. These pits will be destroyed.
Where else in New York State do you have mortar entrenchments from the French
and Indian that are still distinguishable and archaeologically intact?
Next to the mortar pits on the property, you can view the original
military road that was built by the British to service Fort William Henry.
The road travels adjacent to the mortar site and parallel to Lake George. At
a point north of this location, the route exhausts itself between the high
ground and the swamps. It then takes an abrupt turn and falls straight off
the escarpment to the Fort. This pathway for troops and wagons is cut
into a sandy subsoil and in places is ten feet deep. Except for a small
amount of erosion, this road is similar to that which was constructed in 1757
or before. It is simply unbelievable.
Due to a lack of communication this site is going to be destroyed by
Niagara Mohawk, an electric utility based in Syracuse, New York. They are
going to bulldoze this historic example of National significance and replace
it with a power station. This multi-component site that has withstood the
ravages of time for 239 years will be destroyed in the spring of 1996. We
will lose one of the few intact examples of early Colonial history.
THESE QUESTIONS SHOULD BE ANSWERED
What happened to the National Historic Preservation Act?
Why was the site not recommended to the National Register?
Is there a conflict of interest?
Why were archaeological field schools denied access to this site?
According to the New York Archaeological Council code of ethics,
Collamer had an obligation as a professional to present the
particulars of this property to the public in a timely and
responsible manner. Was this effected?
Collamer requires all her employees to sign a contract that
prohibits you from revealing any info on her sites? Why? I
thought this was public information. At least be able to
discuss the specifics of your finds, you don't have to reveal
the location.
Human bone fragments were found on this site. Were they
identified as Euro-American or Native American? Was this made
public?
Why wasn't there testing for French and Native American burials?
There are still burials unaccounted for at this battlesite.
Prominent archaeologists from the Albany to Fort Edward area knew
about this site. Why didn't they, as professionals, do
something to correct the situation.
Did the Adirondack Chapter of the New York State Archaeological
Association know about this site? Fort Edward is close to the
site. Contact: Sarah Majot- Treasurer ( also, crewchief for
Collamer).
The end result of this whole situation is that we have another
archaeological site that is going to be destroyed. Can we do something about
it? I NEED YOUR HELP.
PEOPLE YOU CAN E-MAIL FOR SUPPORT
Lynn Sullivan State Museum Lsulliva@dos90.nysed.gov
Joseph Bruno State Senator Bruno@senate.state.ny.us
Hugh Farley State Senator Farley@senate.state.ny.us
Greenpeace NewYork@green2.greenpeace.org
PEOPLE YOU CAN CALL FOR SUPPORT
Ronald Stafford Warren County State Senator (518) 455-2811
Bernadette Peters Commissioner, Parks and Rec (518) 474-0443
Robert Kuhn SHPO (518) 474-0463
Town of Lake George (518) 668-5722
PEOPLE YOU CAN FAX
Joseph Bruno State Senator Fax (518) 455-2448
Robert Kuhn SHPO Fax (518) 233-9049
Bernadette Peters Commissioner Fax (518) 474-4492
COLLAMER AND ASSOCIATES FAX (518) 426-9624
COLLAMER'S ADDRESS
Jeanette Collamer and Associates
73 Dove Street
Albany, New York
COLLAMER'S FAX Fax (518) 426-9624
NIAGARA MOHAWK customermail@nimo.com
1-800-932-0301
Can anyone make additions to the above list? Send this posting to as
many individuals or organizations as you can. The only way we can save this
site is through public opinion. I need help. I will make revisions to this
posting in the weeks ahead and keep you informed of the results. CONCERNED
grad student is my name right now. You can access this post at the newsgroup
sci.archaeology or alt.archaeology. However, I will only answer questions at
the alt.archaeology newsgroup. If you need to talk to me or wish to see the
site, leave a telephone number when you post at alt.archaeology. Thank you.
Bibliography:
Parkman, Francis
1897, 1898 France and England in North America. The Works of Francis
Parkman, volume V111. Boston, Little, Brown and Company, The
University Press, Cambridge, Mass pp.488, 509, 513, 515, 516, 517
Excellent map of the de Levis' site.
DIRECTIONS TO THE FRENCH SITE
ROUTE 9 NORTH TO LAKE GEORGE. AS YOU ARE COMING DOWN THE HILL
ON ROUTE 9 NORTH INTO THE VILLAGE, TURN LEFT ON BIRCH AVENUE.
FOLLOW BIRCH AVE TO THE END. DO NOT DRIVE INTO A HOMEOWNERS
DRIVEWAY, BIRCH ENDS JUST OUTSIDE OF HIS PROPERTY. YOU WILL
PASS GAGE ROAD AND A CEMETARY ON THE RIGHT BEFORE YOU ARRIVE
AT THE END OF THE ROAD. THE NIAGARA MOHAWK TRANSMISSION LINES
ARE AT THE END OF BIRCH AVE. TURN RIGHT (WALK, NO VEHICLE) AND
FOLLOW NIMO LINES FOR 100 FEET. SITE IS ON THE RIGHT. WALK TO THE
BACK OF THE SITE AND THE MILITARY ROAD IS VISIBLE. WALK THE HIGH
GROUND AND LOOK AT THE MORTAR ENTRENCHMENTS. ARTIFACTS ARE
STREWN ALL OVER THE PLACE. HUMAN BONE FRAGMENTS-BE CAREFUL. GO TO
THIS HISTORIC SPOT BEFORE THE BULLDOZERS ARRIVE.
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