By: Ted Goldberg | NJ Spotlight News

Archaeologists have unearthed hundreds of artifacts at the Princeton Battlefield State Park in recent weeks, some dating to the Revolutionary War era, thanks to a $1.3 million state-funded grant.

“We’re already beginning to pick up artifacts in areas that nobody had really looked before,” said Wade Catts, principal archaeologist at the site. “We’re identifying battle-related materiel in some of those places.”

The state grant will pay for the nonprofit American Battlefield Trust to do an archaeological survey of the grounds, ahead of the possible construction of a new visitor’s center. So far archaeologists have found items including musket balls and other Revolutionary War weaponry. The grant is also meant to pay for the planning of that visitor’s center, and for work to restore the grounds to their 1777 appearance.

The United States semiquincentennial — or 250th birthday — in 2026 is expected to lead to an influx of history buffs to New Jersey.

“If Washington and [his] troops don’t win the Battle of Princeton, then perhaps we don’t win the war at all,” said state Sen. Andrew Zwicker (D-Hunterdon). “We want to ensure that places like Princeton and all of our Revolutionary sites have the resources they need to be ready for the 250th.”

“To have those funds available gives you the ability to really investigate a site like this,” said Catts

help bring it to a timely completion.”

Link to article