Archaeologists Digging At Woodstock Uncovered The Famous Festival’s Secrets
More than 50 years ago, over 400,000 revelers gathered at a farm in Bethel, some 100 miles outside New York City. Then, over three days, they engaged in a celebration of love and music so significant that it is still revered today. But many alive still remember Woodstock, so why are archaeologists now coming through its hallowed fields?
Looking back after 50 years
Well, as the 50th anniversary of the festival approached, plans were made to create a series of commemorative trails that would run through the original site. But over the decades, the festival’s stages and campgrounds have disappeared as nature reclaimed the fields. And with festivalgoers’ memories of the event being doubtless now a little hazy, experts were drafted to uncover the site’s secrets.
Proof of anarchy
Twice in two years, archaeologists set up camp on the old farm. They were determined to uncover the secrets of its famous past. And as their work progressed, they discovered some fascinating details about how Woodstock unfolded. Eventually, the team found something incredible: proof that the festival had been just as anarchic as many people seemingly believed.
It began as a business plan
The festival's origins were less haphazard than you might imagine, though. The seeds of Woodstock were first sewn in early 1969 when a group of savvy businessmen and musical bigwigs hit upon the idea of staging a music festival in Upstate New York. The event was scheduled to take place over three days in August and was initially due to be held in the Orange County town of Wallkill. However, residents objected to the plans, and the authorities eventually formally blocked the festival.
They expected 50,000 people
By then, though, there was only one month until the festival date. Searching for a last-minute solution, the organizers happened upon farmer Max Yasgur’s 600-acre property in Bethel, NY. And to secure permission to hold their event, they told the local authorities that, at most, only 50,000 people were expected to attend.
