Summer 2022 Discoveries

In 2020 Gloucester County’s Department of Land Preservation purchased a small, ¼ acre lot  just north of the park’s boundary. This small parcel contained an undisturbed Fort Mercer trench. In 2021 the New Jersey Historical Commission awarded the park a project grant of $19,000 to support an archaeological survey. Red Bank Battlefield retained Wade Catts of South River Heritage Consulting as the project archaeologist. The grant supported a traditional archaeological study of the trench area but also provided an opportunity for public participation. Over 100 volunteers worked side by side with the archaeology team excavating units, working screens, and washing artifacts.

On June 26, 2022, the last day of the project, a volunteer made a remarkable discovery: a femur. In the days that followed, the park coordinated with the New Jersey State Police Forensic Anthropology Unit to remove the femur for further study. To date, the remains of at least 15 individuals have been recovered. They are undergoing analysis with the hope of recovering some of their identities. When the analysis is complete, the remains will be reinterred. There are ongoing discussions to memorialize and interpret the area where the remains were recovered.