Remains of 44 Revolutionary War soldiers to be reburied in Lake George

The remains of what researchers believe are 44 Revolutionary War soldiers will be reburied Friday at Battlefield Park in Lake George, New York. The bones were discovered during a 2019 construction project and later studied at the New York State Museum.

Construction crews found an 18th-century cemetery below Courtland Street in 2019. Archaeologists recovered the remains, which were then transported to the New York State Museum in Albany for analysis.

Museum staff examined more than 800 loose teeth to determine the minimum number of individuals. Julie Weatherwax, a New York State Museum bioarcheology technician, said she spent months reconstructing dental arcades. A forensic artist also reconstructed the face of one teenage soldier. The museum said the work offered a personal view of individuals who died fighting for independence.

The reburial is part of the “Repose of the Fallen” project.

A motorcade led by New York State Police and nine Korean War and Vietnam-era military trucks will transport the remains to the site. Jennifer Saunders, New York State Museum Executive Director, said the museum is honored to have helped restore the stories of the people whose remains were disturbed.