Description

Cities need a reliable source of fresh water to prosper but the demand is usually greater than the local supply. New York City relies on a system of 19 human made reservoirs and controlled lakes to provide water to 9 million residents. Creating and maintaining the system, which spans a distance of up to 125 miles from the center of Manhattan, has forced thousands of people from their homes, demolished communities, and displaced the dead from cemeteries. Archaeological survey of city-owned lands throughout the watersheds reveals what has been lost. Through collaborations with libraries, museums, historical societies, and individual residents, archaeology has become a tool for community dialogue and action.