While 25 more days of digging may not seem like much, it could be ample time to learn a great deal more about the early history of Albany. Last week, the Albany Parking Authority Board unanimously approved extending the time, and approving more money, so archaeologists can continue excavating in downtown Albany.

Last week I discussed how Archaeologists found a 17th-century Dutch tenant house, brick yards, and tanning vats - the last items totally unexpected. A $12 million city parking garage is going to be built on top of it all.

I was there when Albany's Mayor Jennings and the media were given a tour of the dig. I've known the Mayor for a very long time and he is extremely bright. As Mayor, he tries to balance all interests in this Capital city and this time he has scored one for the preservationists. After years of constant refusals to acknowledge our history, perhaps our elected officials are developing a new policy towards archeology and preservation.

While the archeology team only has 25 more days to continue digging to recover more information, it also gives time for all parties to try to come up with a plan to accommodate the finds. It would be unique to cease development completely, or if that is not possible to park your car in a garage that also had on the ground floor enclosed areas featuring Dutch Houses, a tannery, or brick works incorporated in the design. We already lost this opportunity at the DASNY and DEC building sites, or the parking garage behind the old post office. How many more opportunities are we going to throw away?

If officials had listened to preservationists only three years ago, visitors to Albany would now be able to see a complex of 18 and 19th century wharves, docks, a 180 foot section of the wooden stockade, perhaps an Indian site or two, and foundations for early 18th and 19th century buildings. In essence, visitors could see a slice of the 350 year life of Albany - all within a five minute walk.

But you see, people in high places don't think it's important to save our history. Last week one "source" complained to me that we don't need to spend money on digging up history. Who cares about it anyway, he argued? I asked him to open his wallet. In it, he had 15 photos of his family, friends, and very first girlfriend. Why did you have all that history in your wallet, I asked? Not important? Baloney. Saving a piece of your past is very human.

I would wager that anyone reading this also has photos in their wallet of something they want to "remember" of their past. A sense of history allows us to feel rooted. Certain events of our past are milestones or guideposts which we give importance to so we can not only appreciate where we are in the present, but also gives us an opportunity to predict or shape our own future. And to borrow from an old saying, remembering the past allows us to try not to repeat failures that we learn.

At home you have photos of the family, a vacation, or other event, on your walls or desk. You go to High School reunions, not only to see who got fat or lost their hair, but because you want to recapture some of those earlier moments.

Turn on the radio and you hear history every minute. Even Beatles tunes are over 20 years old.

You probably have an attic full of old "stuff." Why do you save it if it has no importance? Why does "I Love Lucy" and other golden oldies still have large viewerships after 30 years? History is not important? You underestimate its importance. We crave the past.

You are continually incorporating tomorrow's future with the past in your daily life. You may be writing down your appointments for tomorrow, or a date next week from the community events page of this paper. Perhaps you will pick up your dry cleaning today that your dropped off a few days ago, or call back some business associates that left a message on your answering machine last Thursday. While I write this column today, the words won't be read until next Tuesday - in essence, what I am composing at present isn't being read until the future but to me will have been something I created in the past when it appears. The past intertwines with the present and future - It is a continuum. It is not static.

Next time someone tells you history isn't important, ask them to pull out their wallet.