05/21/2026
This morning, the New York State Museum will participate in the dignified transfer of the remains of Revolutionary War soldiers recovered from the Courtland Street Burying Ground in Lake George, as they begin their final journey home escorted by vintage military vehicles and a motorcycle procession. On Friday, May 22, the soldiers will be laid to rest with full honors during a public reinterment ceremony at Lake George Battlefield Park.
The burial ground was discovered in 2019 during construction work, and evidence recovered from the site linked the cemetery to the 1775–1776 Quebec Campaign of the American Revolution. Since then, Museum researchers, partners, and volunteers have worked carefully to recover and study the fragmented remains of more than 40 individuals, helping restore the stories of those who served and sacrificed during the fight for independence.
Using the DNA analysis techniques available at the time of excavation, our team was able to determine broad European ancestry. We also know that all but one of the individuals were male, with many of the remains belonging to soldiers in their teens and early 20s. Additionally, historical accounts — along with the discovery of military buttons from the 1st Pennsylvania Battalion, established in 1775 — strongly indicate the remains date to the Revolutionary War.
As advances in DNA technology continue to expand what researchers may be able to learn from historic remains, samples and documentation from the excavation have been carefully preserved for future study. While additional analysis is an ongoing area of interest, any future work would be approached thoughtfully, respectfully, and in collaboration with appropriate scientific and cultural partners.
(1) Facial reconstruction created by forensic artist Jenny Kenyon
(2) Archaeologists with the New York State Museum, Department of Environmental Conservation, and Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation conduct salvage excavations of partially intact graves from 2019-2020.
(3) Regimental button from the 1st Pennsylvania Battalion.
(4) Filling buckets to be sifted in August 2019. The Revolutionary War Grand Union flag is flying above.
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation NY State Parks & Historic Sites
