the site was identified by archaeologist howard sargent in 1952. in 1967 he conducted some salvage archaeology to recover artifacts that were at risk of disturbance or destruction by the adjacent bridge construction. he then did a more complete excavation of a part of the site near the bridge in 1970. artifacts recovered in this work include ceramics attributed to the late woodland period, charred plant remains, and burials. structural evidence includes features interpreted as the sites of longhouses. the later finds in particular suggest that the occupants were culturally related to native americans from the new york area.