Fort Pitt, Duquesne remnants to be buried -- for Pittsburgh's 250th anniversary

About two weeks ago, archaeologist Tom Kutys thought he'd found a stone wall when he came across mortared capstones in a trench at the state park that once was the site of French and British forts. Instead, archaeologists at Point State Park believe they very well might have uncovered long-buried remnants of Fort Duquesne, Pittsburgh's original fort...

"It argues that there may be extensive other evidence of Fort Duquesne," [archaeologist Brooke] Blades said. "People always knew where Fort Duquesne was, but the question was how much of it was left?...It is tangible evidence. It's where the permanent occupation of Pittsburgh began."

The discovery, however, won't slow down the [$35 million] renovation of the park.

In fact, Kutys' discovery will be buried as work continues to upgrade the 36-acre park to include a new lawn area, irrigation and electrical systems, landscapes, vendor hookups, benches and wireless Internet in time for Pittsburgh's 250th anniversary celebration next year...

Blades said excavation in another section of the park will begin next week and he hopes to find evidence of the fort's stockade.

The renovation has angered preservationists, who said history was being buried...

Supporters of the renovation, however, said they plan to start an archaeological program at the park sometime in the future.

"We have to figure out who's going to do it, how it's managed and how it's funded," said Laura Fisher of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development. "It has to be real research. The vision is to have an actual program of archaeology. Things like this find help build the case to do it."

Related Links

Fort Pitt Preservation Society