Professional Archaeologists of New York City, Inc.	December 4, 2006

An overview of the Stadt Huys Block, today's 85 Broad Street. PANYC was founded in 1980 in response to this excavation. (The William Duncan Strong Museum, Columbia University, 1979)

Founded in 1980, The Professional Archaeologists of New York City, Inc. (PANYC), is a not-for-profit watchdog organization devoted to the protection and preservation of New York City's archaeological sites. An important secondary goal is the education of the public about the existence of such sites and the ways in which they are endangered. The need for PANYC grew out of an increasing awareness that the present often obliterates the past and that an organization was needed to call attention to important archaeological issues, especially the destruction of archaeological sites. Members include professional archaeologists who are academics, government regulators, museum professionals, and consultant practitioners. They work together to protect and preserve the city's archaeological sites, both by ensuring that the provisions of existing laws are carried out and by working towards changing laws so that sites are better protected.

PANYC was influential in making certain that the 1992 excavation at the African Burial Ground followed good archaeological procedures.

When archaeological investigation uncovered Fort Gibson's massive stone walls in 1992, PANYC convinced the National Park Service to leave the walls exposed to serve as a unique example of the island's history and to show how Ellis Island has been expanded and reshaped by landfilling.

PANYC members visiting the 18th c. wall that was uncovered in Battery Park for subway expansion (Douglas Mackey, 2006)

Excavations at the African Burial Ground (GSA & John Milner Associates, 1992)

Wall of Fort Gibson, a War of 1812 battery on Ellis Island (Hunter Research, Inc., 1992)

Contact PANYC at PANYC2006@yahoo.com.

© 2006 by the Archaeological Institute of America www.archaeology.org/online/features/nyc/

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