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Beginning Monday, July 30 and lasting through Friday, August
10 archaeologists will be excavating a portion of the Fort William Henry parade
ground at Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site.
The dig, conducted by the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, will occur on weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to about 5:00 p.m. and will seek to
uncover historical information and artifacts relating to the three British
Colonial forts that were built on the site between the 1670s and the 1720s. The
first two, Forts Charles and William Henry, were destroyed by the French and
their Native allies, while the third fort, Fort Frederick, fell into disrepair
and was destroyed by local colonists to prevent its use by British forces
during the American Revolution.
A replica of Fort William Henry, built in the early 1900s,
stands on the site today. This year’s effort will build on the dig last year in
the same area that uncovered some of the original fort walls, a piece of a 17th
century cannon, cannonballs and other items commonly used in the 1600s on the
Maine coast.
The public is welcome to visit the site, watch the digging,
and ask questions of the archaeologists.
Media is welcome to visit the site at any time during the
two week period and observe the work as it goes on.
For more information, contact the Bureau of Parks and Lands
at 207-287-3821.
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