An Archaeologist Will Look at Contested Graveyard Site

Looks like the vacant lot between 8th and 9th streets, near 3rd Avenue — a site believed by some to be the burial site of Revolutionary War soldiers from the First Maryland Regiment killed in the Battle of Brooklyn — will get some of the archeological attention neighborhood preservationists asked for. Earlier in the week the School Construction Authority started taking soil samples at the vacant lot because the city is eyeing this space for a potential school. Neighborhood preservationists want to investigate the lot for historical purposes and possibly turn it into a memorial park, but the owners so far have expressed interest only in selling it. Bob Furman, a Brooklyn historian and the subject of this New York Times piece on the gravesite, got in touch with the Landmarks Preservation Commission, who told Furman that the SCA is obtaining the services of a professional archaeologist to monitor the environmental testing when it resumes work at this spot. Furman tells us, “If there’s no real interest in finding something here, they probably won’t,” although this is certainly an exciting development to the story. We’ll keep you updated as the testing moves along.
City Eyes a Possible Historic Grave Site for School [Brownstoner] GMAP