Archaeological Monitoring, Treatment and Data Recovery Plan of PIN 0757.46.121, Grangebel Park Improvements in the Town of Riverhead, Suffolk County, New York, Program Year 2005-2006

This report presents a Monitoring, Treatment and Data Recovery Plan for Grangebel Park, located in the Town of Riverhead, Suffolk County, New York. The New York Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) in cooperation with the Federal highway Administration (FHWA) and the Town of Riverhead Community Development Agency have proposed improvements to Grangebel Park as part of a larger, more comprehensive plan to revitalize Riverhead. No prior archaeological investigations are known to have been conducted within the boundaries of Grangebel Park prior to work performed by the New York State Museum Cultural Resource Survey Program. Three phases of research have been completed so far.
The initial Reconnaissance survey included archaeological site file search, archival research and historic map analysis. A walkover survey and architectural assessment of structures located within and immediately adjacent to the PIN 0757.46. I 2 I project area was also undertaken. The Pre-Reconnaissance survey was completed in February 2005. The archival research was then followed by a Reconnaissance level survey. Subsurface testing determined that a large portion of Grangebel Park was highly disturbed. However, intact archaeological deposits were identified within a portion of the park under a highly variable amount of fill soils. The subsequent Site Examination was conducted immediately following the completion of the Reconnaissance Survey to determine if the park was eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (Lenardi and LoRusso 2005). Archaeological fieldwork for both surveys was completed in July 2005 by the staff from the Cultural Resource Survey Program at the New York State Museum, as part of an interagency agreement between the New York State Department of Transportation and the New York State Education Department.