Cultural Resources
CULTURAL RESOURCES
Please click below to view the project’s Cultural Resources Information.
These Cultural Resources Reports detail the GRT’s archeological monitoring results to date.
Memo #10- Summary of Clean Earth Visit, September 26, 2024
Memo #9- Summary of Level 2 monitoring during removal of target 42b within Turning Basin-7, Gowanus Canal, August 19 and 20, 2024.
Memo #8- Summary of Gowanus Canal Staging Area Visit, August 9 through August 16, 2024
Memo #7- Summary of Gowanus Canal Staging Area Visit, August 9, 2024
Memo #6- Summary of CleanEarth Visit, August 8, 2024
Memo #5- Summary of visit to Cashman Yard, Staten Island, NY, on August 7, 2024
Memo #4- Summary of CleanEarth Visit, 7/29/24
Memo #3- Results of Photo-documentation and removal of the derelict barges in TB6, RTA 2: 7/9/24
Memo #2- Results of Level 1 Cultural Resource Review of June 25th Dredging: 7/1/24
Memo #1- Results of Level 1 Cultural Resource Review of RTA1 Supplemental Dredging: 6/25/24
Cultural Resource Review 39: 1/23/23 – End Of Fieldwork Results
Cultural Resource Review 38: 12/27/22
Cultural Resource Review 37: 12/12/22
Cultural Resource Review 36: 11/21/22
Cultural Resource Review 35: 11/10/22
Cultural Resource Review 34: 11/04/22
Cultural Resource Review 33: 10/28/22
Cultural Resource Review 32: 10/24/22
Cultural Resource Review 31: 10/10/22
Cultural Resource Review 30: 10/03/22
Cultural Resource Review 29: 9/23/22
Cultural Resource Review 28: 9/09/22
Cultural Resource Review 27: 9/01/22
Cultural Resource Review 26: 8/26/22
Cultural Resource Review 25: 8/19/22
Cultural Resource Review 24: 9/12/22 – End Of Fieldwork Results
Cultural Resource Review 23: 8/12/22
Cultural Resource Review 22: 7/20/22 – End Of Fieldwork Results
Cultural Resource Review 21: 5/18/22
Cultural Resource Review 20: 5/12/22
Cultural Resource Review 19: 4/28/22
Cultural Resource Review 18: 2/28/22
Cultural Resource Review 17: 1/18/22
Cultural Resource Review 16: 10/05/21
Cultural Resource Review 15: 7/26/21
Cultural Resource Review 14: 10/22/21 – End Of Fieldwork Results
Cultural Resource Review 13: 4/23/21
Cultural Resource Review 12: 4/16/21
Cultural Resource Review 11: 4/14/21
Cultural Resource Review 10: 3/19/21
Cultural Resource Review 9: 3/04/21
Cultural Resource Review 8: 2/22/21
Cultural Resource Review 7: 2/12/21
Cultural Resource Review 6: 1/29/21
Cultural Resource Review 5: 1/22/21
Cultural Resource Review 4: 1/8/21
Cultural Resource Review 3: 12/22/20
Cultural Resource Review 2: 12/15/20
Cultural Resource Review 1: 12/08/20
These infographics highlight historical information from the project’s Cultural Resources Reports.
All Gowanus remedial construction activities are subject to a Cultural Resources Monitoring Plan (CRMP), as directed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Project’s CRMPs are available in the Document Library. The CRMP governs how cultural resources are addressed in the Canal during the GRT’s remediation activities.
The CRMP requires that cultural resource experts review all material that is handled during remedial construction activities to determine if there are items that have potential cultural significance. When an item is identified as having potential cultural significance the item is separated, photographed and retained for further review. After conducting historical research and analysis, the item is designated as either Debris, an Object of Local Interest, or an Artifact under the definitions provided by the CRMP. The item is then sorted for final placement based on this designation.
Objects of Local Interest are defined as meeting all of the following criteria:
- Identifiable by type, function, material and/or time period.
- Has a general association with the area, but not with a specific site, event, or person along the Gowanus Canal during the canal’s period of significance (1853 to 1965).
- Does not confirm previously unconfirmed archival information along the canal or reveal new facts that change our understanding of the history of the area.
Artifacts are defined as meeting all of the following criteria:
- Identifiable by type, function, material and time period.
- Has an identifiable association with a specific building, site, event, or person along the Gowanus Canal during the canal’s period of significance (1853 to 1965).
- Confirms previously unconfirmed archival information along the canal or reveals new information that changes our understanding of the history/development of the area.
Debris is defined as any other item recovered from excavation/dredging, including:
- Unidentifiable objects
- Objects with no apparent association with the local area
- Construction debris
- Objects made after 1965
- Natural items (such as trees, brush, rocks, etc.)