INTRODUCTION

This memorandum presents the findings of the archeologists review of sediments from a recovered floor safe that was identified in Memorandum 11, dated 4/13/21. The safe is being stored at the staging area in Brooklyn, New York. The safe and sediments are from the RTA-1 dredging conducted earlier this year at the Gowanus Canal Superfund Site in Brooklyn, New York. The purpose of this memorandum is to present the findings and recommendations for the content of the floor safe reviewed by an archeologist at the staging area on 9/28/21. 

RESULTS   

An archeologist conducted a site visit at the staging area on 9/21/21 to review the interior and contents of a previously recovered floor safe. The interior of the safe was inspected and the piles were searched by hand. In addition, photographs were taken of the safe and its contents.

The material under review consisted of the metal floor safe (Photographs 1, 2 and 3) and two piles of the safe’s content (Photographs 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8). The safe had been cleaned out through a hole in the bottom (Photograph 2) and showed no sign of residual material inside (Photograph 3). The contents of pile one consisted of brown soil with fragmented thin wood laminate, likely the interior of the safe and some small fragments of plastic. The contents of pile two consisted mostly of the same soil and types of plastic with fewer wood fragments. Nothing of interest was observed in either pile or the safe’s interior.

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The Draft End of Fieldwork Memo (Report #14), classifies the safe as an item of local interest. The archeologist concludes that after review on 9/21/21, the contents of the safe had no historic/archeological significance. Per the draft Cultural Resource Monitoring Plan, the archeologist further recommends that the contents of the safe may be disposed of.