Philadelphia public archaeology lab at Independence National Historical Park closed for up to two years

The popular public archaeology lab at Independence National Historical Park, forced from its longtime home at Third and Chestnut Streets by a land deal undertaken by the park and a private group, will not reopen in its new quarters for up to two years, park officials said this week.

When they closed it in June, the officials predicted a late-summer reopening for the lab, which is analyzing about one million artifacts unearthed in the park a decade ago.

Although the move from the old park visitors' center to the First Bank of the United States building directly across the street has been contemplated for almost a year, park officials said they belatedly determined that the bank's electrical and cooling facilities were inadequate.

The Philadelphia Archaeological Forum, a professional association dedicated to preserving and advancing awareness of archaeological resources, expressed dismay about the delays.

"We believe the extended closure of the laboratory represents a serious setback" to its work, the forum said in a July 20 letter to park superintendent Cynthia MacLeod.

The letter, signed by forum vice president Lauren J. Cook, called the lengthy delay "unacceptable."

The move was forced by an agreement between the park and the private American Revolution Center, which had sought unsuccessfully to open a facility in Valley Forge National Historical Park.

Independence Park is transferring a parcel at the southeast corner of Third and Chestnut - home of the lab - to the Revolution Center; in return, the center is transferring 78 acres in Valley Forge to the National Park Service.

The deal is expected to close later this month.

MacLeod said Thursday that earlier predictions of a quick, seamless move were simply wrong. The public lab's work will now be done in a small classroom in a park building at 325 Walnut St. It's possible, she said, that a room next door will be added.

Park service archaeologist Jed Levin, who is in charge of the lab, said a smaller-scale Walnut Street lab would be open in about three weeks. MacLeod said that small numbers of visitors could be accommodated by appointment and that public programming - talks or lectures - might be established at the First Bank at a later date.