Students Excavated Lost Philadelphia Black Bottom Neighborhood

Archaeology students are unearthing artifacts from the historic West Philadelphia neighborhood destroyed in the 1960s.

Updated on Sept. 19, 2026 in African-American

Bold vector editorial illustration showing a ceramic shard and trowel in soil, representing archaeological efforts to uncover history. — University of Pennsylvania students are excavating archaeological sites in West Philadelphia to uncover remnants of the historic Black Bottom neighborhood, displaced in the 1960s. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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University of Pennsylvania students are digging at current excavation sites to recover remnants of the former Black Bottom neighborhood. This initiative aims to document the history of the community displaced during 1960s urban renewal efforts.

Why it matters

The project provides material evidence of the lives of Black Bottom residents whose community was demolished to build University City. It also seeks to educate students on the complex history of the land currently occupied by local campuses.

The former Black Bottom neighborhood spanned the area between 33rd Street, 40th Street, Lancaster Avenue, and Market Street. Current excavations are focused at a parking lot on Lancaster Avenue and North 35th Street.

The players

University of Pennsylvania

This private research university is conducting the archaeological project as part of an undergraduate course.

Drexel University

This university campus hosts two of the excavation sites associated with the ongoing historical research.

Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority

This agency facilitated the urban renewal process that led to the demolition of the Black Bottom neighborhood.

The details

Students in the course Digging in the City of Brotherly Love are working alongside community members to process sites, including two new locations on the Drexel University campus. The work seeks to create a physical record of a neighborhood that was officially designated as blighted by the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority during the 1960s.

1960s: Black Bottom was demolished for the development of University City.
2024: The Heritage West project entered its third year.

Culture Shift

This project reflects a broader shift in institutional accountability toward acknowledging the impacts of 20th-century urban renewal. By physically excavating the site of the demolition of Black Bottom for University City, the work challenges the erasure of marginalized communities from the modern academic landscape.

Residents may see an increase in archaeological activity near North 35th Street and around the Drexel University campus. The project committee is also planning a historical marker near North 36th and Market streets to commemorate the former neighborhood for the public.

The takeaway

This effort emphasizes the importance of preserving the memory of neighborhoods lost to urban development through tangible archaeological evidence. Residents interested in local history can participate in community-led initiatives to ensure these stories are formally recognized.