A 19th century douche made of bone, found near City Hall, is displayed at the New York City Archaeological Repository in New York, Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2016. Nearly one million antiquities have been unearthed at construction sites in New York City, artifacts that help shed light on the history of the city and people who once lived there. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

NYC launches archaeological repository and digital archive

NEW YORK – Nearly 1 million antiquities including ceramics, a bayonet, perfume and medicine bottles — even a 200-year-old douche device — have been unearthed at construction sites in New York City.

The artifacts, excavated from 31 sites across the city’s five boroughs, help shed light on local history and the people who once lived there. The objects had been stored for decades at 14 locations — until now.

On Wednesday, the Landmarks Preservation Commission unveiled a climate-controlled repository where all the specimens are housed under one roof.

The artifacts range from a hunter’s spear point from 8,000 years ago, excavated in Queens, to an early 20th century toy teacup discovered in Lower Manhattan.

The commission also launched an online database of the archaeological finds.

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