Montezuma Heritage Park Montezuma, NY

My Man, Stan, Loves to Play in the Dirt

Although he'd much rather be playing in the dirt on a JD,

he is really enjoying himself here.

The Digging Begins

Here’s where everyone digs in and the real work begins.

Test Unit #2 - Stan Longyear, Montezuma and Margaret Sullivan, Auburn

Test Unit #1 - Gabrielle Babilot of Weedsport

Test Unit #3 - Anita Messina, Terry Warner, Port Byron and

Andy Varga, Niagara Falls

Test Unit #1 - Matt Gradzien, Weedsport

Finding Soil Color and Type for each level

Staking out the test units on 8/29/09

Receiving Instructions Before We Begin on 8/29/09

Our special thanks for the success of this project goes to Mr. David Babson, Archaeologist from Syracuse. He designed and conducted the project very precisely with over 35 years of expertise. His professional direction will add to a better understanding of this site during the Erie Canal era in New York State while assuring there was minimal disturbance to the archaeological resource base.

Mr. David Babson, Archaeologist

Surveying the Site - 8/29/09

Before we could begin the area was surveyed. Services were donated by Watkins Land Surveying of Auburn. Here Joni Lincoln and Terry Warner assist surveyor, Steve Defendorf, to get started. Archaeologist, David Babson prepares to start the day with plenty of repellent to ward of those pesky mosquitoes. We all were starting to get a taste of what it must have been like to work in these elements in the canal era.

Joni Lincoln, Town of Conquest Historian

Steve Defendorf, Surveyer from Watkins Land Surveying, Auburn, NY

David Babson, Archaeologist, Syracuse, NY

Terry Warner, Port Byron and David Babson, Syracuse

Preparing to Start the Dig on 8/29/09

We were off to a late start on Saturday, August 29th. Threatening skies and weather forecasts for thunder showers couldn't dampen the enthusiasm of those who showed up for the dig. The site had been prepared prior to the dig by the Cayuga County Sheriff's Inmate Work program with the supervision of my husband, Stan Longyear and Deputies Bruce Watkins, Todd Fisher, and Larry Westover.

Tools for the project had to be transported by lawn tractor and then carried across the Clinton's Ditch via a bridge that Stan and Bob Melvin built with pallets and lumber donated from Secor Lumber Company, Savannah. Bob Alnutt lent his newly painted golf cart (Case Orange, of course) for transportation to and from the site.

Mike Riley, Canal Historian came with maps and photos that showed how the site would have looked when the first Erie Canal opened in 1820. Bill Breen, our own resident amateur archaeologist gave us a hand to help transport the tools to the site. Bill has unearthed Indian artifacts and has an extensive collection of arrow heads from the Montezuma area.

Joni Lincoln and Mike Riley