Why would you need an archeologist in New York? It's entire history is practically living memory! Ask someone old enough, and they probably remember drinking from bottles designed (if not made) in the inter-war years, or earlier.<br>Best way to preserve history? Literally set it in stone. Especially if you stretch the definition to include pottery and ceramics. Fabric, organic paint and wood all biodegrade. Metal rusts. Plastic doesn't, but some compounds do disintigrate over time in the sun - within 50 years.