Protecting the Past to Conserve the Future: Ripley Site purchased by The Archaeological Conservancy in collaboration with Seneca Nation and Buffalo Bat Habitat.
RIPLEY, N.Y., Nov. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Buffalo Bat Habitat, The Archaeological Conservancy, and the Seneca Nation of Indians are honored to announce a collaborative effort and mission to protect and preserve the historic 'Ripley Site', a culturally and archaeologically significant site associated with the Erie and Haudenosaunee peoples.
The Archaeological Conservancy, a national nonprofit organization, has signed a purchase agreement for the 'Ripley Site', one of the four parcels within the 'Ripley Bat Farm'. This ensures that the 'Ripley Site' will remain protected in perpetuity from development, unnecessary disturbance, and irreversible loss, while ensuring its cultural significance is respected and honored by researchers, its descendants, and stewards. The site's rich history has been preserved by the Barnes family for generations.
"Preserving and protecting our ancestral lands and culturally significant sites like the Ripley Site is a responsibility we all share for our future generations," said Seneca nation President J. Conrad Seneca. "In working with Buffalo Bat Habitat and the Archaeological Conservancy, the Seneca Nation is advancing our longstanding traditions of environmental stewardship, wildlife protection and cultural preservation."
Kelley Berliner, the Conservancy's Eastern Regional Director, stated, "Many sites like Ripley, which contained indigenous-constructed earthworks, have been destroyed, causing a great loss in irreplaceable heritage and our ability to study the past. It is fortunate that it has been cared for by the Barnes family for so long, and we are grateful for their decision to ensure the site remains protected in perpetuity."
Buffalo Bat Habitat's President, Brian Caughel, added "This is about more than preserving a piece of land. It's about safeguarding a place of deep cultural, historical and ecological importance. Protecting the 'Ripley Site' demonstrates what can be accomplished when organizations unite around a common purpose."
Together, The Archaeological Conservancy brings decades of experience protecting irreplaceable indigenous sites, the Seneca Nation provides essential cultural leadership and preservation of ancestral connections, while Buffalo Bat Habitat brings its commitment to land conservation, ecological restoration, and long-term stewardship. Their shared mission will ensure the protection of the 'Ripley Site', preserve its past, and conserve it for future generations of descendants, researchers, and wildlife that inhabit this sacred site.
About The Archaeological Conservancy
The Archaeological Conservancy, established in 1980, is the only national non-profit organization dedicated to acquiring and preserving the best of our nation's remaining archaeological sites. Based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the Conservancy also operates regional offices in Mississippi, Maryland, Minnesota, and Nevada.
About Buffalo Bat Habitat
Founded in 2024, Buffalo Bat Habitat's mission is to establish and maintain stable habitat for bats in the greater western New York region, to support recovery of their populations after devastation by White-nose Syndrome.
Media Contact
Sophie Kephart, Buffalo Bat Habitat, 1 716-574-0792, [email protected], https://www.buffalobathabitat.org/
SOURCE Buffalo Bat Habitat
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