The following field season we returned for seven weeks

...the key to the Hospital of Death...

The following field season we returned for seven weeks. We pursued our leads and found ourselves digging eastward and deeper and deeper, following the soil layers that were stripped back to reveal historic (post European contact) and "prehistoric" (Native American) artifacts as we went further back in time. I erected a makeshift tent like structure constructed from 2 by 4s and tarps to protect our exposed features (and us!) from the intense rays of the midday sun and the sudden thundershowers that frequently threatened to destroy the site. Having survived several of these thunderstorms, one near tornado, and an incident of wanton vandalism, it became apparent that we were digging along an eighteenth century slope that had been used as a convenient dump for garbage during the French and Indian War period . We found hundreds of period nails, bottle glass and animal bone fragments, some gun flints and lead shot, and a copper 1753 King George II half penny . More important were the "hospital related" sherds of medicine vial glass and the remains of a pewter spoon that had the sides of its bowl bent inward, probably modified in this fashion to make it easier to spoon feed invalids. We also found an iron barrel strap that had been hooked at each end to suspend a pot over a cooking fire, and copper cufflinks that actually had linen thread still intact after 230+ years!

The most amazing artifact of that summer was discovered by John Farrell, an avocational who teaches physics at Lake George High School (and who was one of the crew responsible for discovering the most intact warship from the French and Indian War period in the world at the bottom of Lake George- the radeau "Land Tortoise"). About one meter deep John found a fascine knife, a 22 1/2 inch curved heavy iron blade with a tang that still had wood fragments attached where the handle had been. The fascine knife was used to clear the island of brush and small trees, which would then be bundled together to be used in building earthenworks, mounds of dirt and wood to protect the fort's outerworks . Beneath this, Native American occupation of the site was in evidence as we also encountered dozens of chert flakes (byproducts of point making), discarded river clam shells, and beautifully ornate pottery sherds. Five hundred years ago this island must have been an idyllic spot to stop, fish and hunt, encamp and feast. It was a very productive summer, but we were a bit disheartened that we did not find the remains of the hospital itself. There was a good chance that all evidence of the actual building had been destroyed.

Planning for the 1994 field season began in earnest after all the data from the previous years had been catalogued and analyzed. In the lab we were fortunate to have a dedicated core group led by veteran Merle Parsons, who somehow managed to keep up with the daily stream of artifacts from our site and the other sites (Rangers' huts and dump, officers' barracks and a privy). I was concerned that this might be our last season on the island, and that the four weeks that we were to be here would not be enough time to find the hospital. Preparing the site for excavation alone might take days. Training new volunteers had to be done with time and patience. Inclement weather was a constant threat. Farming and flooding may have long ago carried away what we wanted to find. Modern disturbances with power backhoe equipment (1960s) at this end of the island may have provided a more recent "coup de grace" to any remains of the building. it looked like a crap shoot at best, but we just couldn't let the search end without one more push. Something that research historian and fellow digger Scott Padeni remarked on was what was driving us all forward-that

the answers could be found by looking at the puzzle and putting ourselves in the shoes of the men and women we were studying.

With this now firmly in mind, we decided the hospital had to be nearby. In that day and age and in that context, garbage collecting was unheard of. The connection between simple sanitation and public health had not yet been clearly defined. Our hospital building was probably very close to where we had been digging in 1993, the dumpsite.

The fact that our undated map showed a rectangular building atop a loaf of land was significant because now we knew where that slope began and ended. Assuming the map was accurately laid out and accounting for the differences in the size and shape of the island today, I transposed it with the modern survey map. The hospital appeared to be about 200 feet north of the river channel that cut the island off from its southernmost extremities. Today a brush covered depression can be seen where this channel once ran, between our site and the present day Idle Hour Club. Pacing this off and measuring two dozen feet west of our dumpslope, we had the area to begin.

On the map, the hospital appeared to be over 100 feet long and about 15-20 feet wide. I decided we would cut two trenches by hand perpendicularly across this area that I had staked out. If luck was with us perhaps we would run across the soil discolorations that would indicate a pattern of post hole stains where this building had once stood. The site was gridded out in anticipation of the arrival of our team of new volunteers and veteran diggers on July 5th.

Fort Edward July the 4th (1757)-

In the Morning I went to work with a Part of 49 Men in the Trench, etc. We were Directed by Lieutenant Fash of the Royal Americans. About 8 o'Clock General Lyman Came in from His Scout--they Brought in News that they found Henry Shuntup in the woods Killed & Scalped, His Throat Cut & His Breast Cut open &Heart out & Gone, a Large Piece of wood Left in the Place of it. John Kennady and Jabez Jones they Didn't find, But By Signs they found they thought that they Had Carried them off, etc.

the 5th-

was a Steady Rainy Day--we took an allowance Party in Fresh Provisions--this Day I Sold My Indian Stockings to Joseph Kellogg for 4 shillings.