Douglas B. Mooney, M.A.
Senior Archaeologist

  • Area of Expertise
    • Cultural Resource Management Studies
    • Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act
    • Archaeological Surveys and Excavations
    • Historic Cemetery and Forensic Investigations
    • NAGPRA Consultation
  • Years of Experience
    • With Other Firms: 18 Years
  • Education
    • M.A. / 1994 / Pennsylvania State University / Anthropology
    • B.A. / 1987 / West Virginia University / Anthropology
  • Registration/Certification
    • 40-Hour HAZWOPER Certification
    • Section 106 Review Certification
  • Chronology
    • 2006 – present: URS Corporation
    • 1999 – 2006: Kise Straw & Kolodner, Inc.
    • 1998 – 1999: KCI Technologies, Inc.
    • 1994 – 1996: Kittatinny Archaeological Research, Inc.
    • 1993 – 1994: Greenhorne & O’Mara, Inc.
    • 1992: 3-D Environmental Services, Inc.
    • 1990 – 1991: Lantz Research, Inc.
    • 1987 – 1994: John Milner Associates, Inc.
  • Professional Societies/Affiliations
    • Philadelphia Archaeological Forum (PAF); current President
    • Council for Northeaster Historical Archaeology (CNEHA)
    • Society for Historic Archaeology (SHA)
    • Middle Atlantic Archaeological Conference (MAAC)

Overview

Mr. Mooney joined URS Corporation in 2006 and has more than twenty years experience in archaeology and cultural resources management. He has participated in the excavation of more than 150 sites throughout the Mid-Atlantic Region and in England, and has served as Field Director/ Principal Investigator on numerous Phase I – Phase III investigations; including those of several nationally significant Native American and Historical sites. His responsibilities include the conduct of historical research, the development and scoping of research designs, the direction of fieldwork, laboratory analysis, and report preparation, and project management. Mr. Mooney is the primary author of more than 50 technical reports and professional papers, and his experience encompasses prehistoric, historic, urban, and mortuary archaeological investigations.

Project Experience

Archaeological Investigations of the I-95/Girard Ave. Improvements Project, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Senior Archaeologist. Performed for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Engineering District 6-0. Directing ongoing Phase II and III archaeological investigations along a three-mile long portion of the Interstate 95 highway corridor in advance of planned construction efforts. Investigations to date have resulted in the identification and detailed study of multiple National Register-eligible historic sites, including portions of the former Aramingo Canal prism and the discovery of five previously unknown prehistoric Native American encampments.

Archaeological Investigations of the President’s House Site, Independence National Historical Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Senior Archaeologist. Performed for the City of Philadelphia and Independence National Historical Park. Directed data recovery excavations at the former residential complex that served as the Executive Mansion for President’s George Washington and John Adams (1790-1800). Investigations revealed substantial portions of the original foundations for these buildings, including architectural features associated with both the Office of the President and the group of enslaved Africans who toiled on this land during Washington’s tenure. Conceived from the start as an exercise in public archaeology, fieldwork for this project drew more than 300,000 visitors to the site over a four month period.

Cliveden/Upsala Archaeological Investigations, 6400 Block of Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Senior Archaeologist. Performed for Cliveden of the National Trust. Directed archaeological monitoring and Phase I investigations at two Colonial/Revolutionary Warera National Register-listed historic sites in the Germantown section of Philadelphia. Both project involved the identification, interpretation, and evaluation of preserved archaeological deposits within these sites. Work at Upsala also involved the formulation of a detailed archaeological resources Management Plan to ensure the future preservation of identified resources.

Washington Square/Potter’s Field Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Senior Archaeologist. Performed for PECA and the Independence National Historical Park. Investigated human remains disturbed by the excavation of an electric utility access point at the northeast corner of Washington Square, Philadelphia. Project involved the recovery of skeletal remains from previously excavated soils and the documentation of the extent of impacts to any intact graves present. Burials were found to be originally placed within a large pit or trench, and may be associated with persons killed by the 1793 Yellow Fever epidemic.

Phase I through Phase III Investigations, National Constitution Center Site, Independence National Historical Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Principal Archaeologist. Performed for the National Constitution Center and the National Park Service. Directed archaeological excavations of an entire 18th century city block. Investigations employed of crew of 60 professional archaeologists and resulted in the excavation of 115 historic house lots and nearly 300 features, the relocation of some 150 individuals from the former 2nd Presbyterian Church Cemetery, and the recovery of more than 1 million artifacts. Investigations also resulted in the documentation of an intact Native American encampment and the recovery of artifacts associated with several intact 18th century African American home sites.

James Oronoco Dexter Lot Archaeological Investigations, Independence National Historic Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Principal Archaeologist. Performed for the National Constitution Center and the National Park Service. Directed historical and archaeological investigations of the home site (ca. 1790-1799) of an important early African American leader in the city. Project included the conduct of intensive historical research, close interaction with members of the city’s African American community, site excavation, and artifact analysis. Site investigations resulted in the identification of six historic features, one of which was attributed to the Dexter household.