For the City of Fredericksburg to move forward with the development of a new riverfront park, archaeological and historical investigations were needed to assure cultural resource compliance and that the final park design avoided important archaeological features while meeting the needs of the community.
Our team conducted in-depth archival research, Phase I–II archaeological survey, Phase III archaeological data recovery, architectural analysis, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) field data collection and historical overlays that uncovered data on hundreds of years of history along the riverfront. The foundations of almost a dozen buildings were exposed and explored, and tens of thousands of artifacts were examined.
Our team also discovered the remains of three Union soldiers who were buried in the area after dying during the Battle of Fredericksburg in 1862. We worked with the Virginia State Historic Preservation Office and the National Park Service to inter the remains in the Fredericksburg National Cemetery. Extensive project coordination involved local, state, and federal agencies, as well as numerous public outreach initiatives including public presentations and interpretive signage.
