Archaeology in Action

Once a bustling West Philadelphia neighborhood, by the 1960s the Black Bottom was destroyed under the concept of urban renewal. For four months in 2023, community members and students worked alongside professional archaeologists to excavate artifacts as part of the Heritage West project. The goal of the project is to uncover the stories of the individuals who lived in Black Bottom, highlighting the love, community, and humanity of the neighborhood and acknowledge the violence of its destruction. Heritage West co-project directors Dr. Sarah Linn and Dr. Megan Kassabaum will discuss the early stages of project planning, the 2023 excavation season, 2024 lab work, and efforts to share the recovered stories of the people of Black Bottom.