All Over Albany

100,000 pieces of the past

There was something about this piece of Delft pottery from Schuyler Flatts depicting a dog that caught our eye. / photo: New York State Museum

The State Museum announced Thursday that's it's acquired more than 100,000 archaeological artifacts from Fort Orange and Schuyler Flatts. It's planning an exhibit based on the items for 2018.

Press release blurbage:

Archaeological excavations in the early 1970s under the direction of Dr. Paul Huey resulted in the recovery of 36,000 artifacts from Fort Orange and over 80,000 artifacts from Schuyler Flatts. Among the thousands of artifacts recovered are everyday items such as ceramic plates, tobacco pipes, drinking glasses, firearm parts, and food remains. Trade items in the collection include glass beads, mouth harps, and other items. Together, these two collections tell the story of the first Native Americans who lived in the Upper Hudson Valley for thousands of years before Europeans arrived, interaction between Native people and the first Dutch Colonists, the development of Fort Orange as a trading center, the establishment of Rensselaerswijck, and everyday life in 17th century New Netherland. ...

The Fort Orange and Schuyler Flatts collections were transferred to the New York State Museum by the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Some of the artifacts remain on public exhibition at Crailo State Historic Site in Rensselaer, Senate House State Historic Site in Kingston, and Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site in Albany.

Here are a few examples from the newly-acquired lot of objects.

Fort Orange was located roughly where 787 and the Dunn Memorial Bridge now meet. Schuyler Flatts -- now the Schuyler Flatts Cultural Park -- is in Menands, along Broadway. You might remember the recent Schuyler Flatts Burial Ground Project, which was dedicated to providing a respectful burial for the remains of 14 people who had been slaves at the former Schuyler family estate two centuries ago.