ALBANY — Even though officials still have to finish lining up funding for the proposed $400 million Albany Convention Center, an archeological dig will begin today at the site of the proposed center.

The Albany Convention Center Authority is moving ahead with the dig even though they are waiting approval of an additional $190 million in state funding for the convention center and results of a state-ordered study on the feasibility of the project. Without this additional state funding, the center will likely not be built.

Hartgen Archeology will begin excavating a 2-meter by 2-meter area by hand within Liberty Park at the corner of Hudson Avenue and Dallius Street. The city-owned park was chosen because the land has been minimally disturbed over time and will provide information about soils, flood plain deposits and the original elevations of the surrounding area before it was developed.

"Albany is one of the earliest settlements in the nation. We're approaching this excavation with great anticipation of what might be learned," said George Leveille, chairman of the authority board.

More extensive excavation will begin in early July with a series of trenches located in the project area that have been approved by the state Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.