September 10, 2010

The Saugeen Shores infrastructure project includes extension of the sanitary system to about 400 homes.

FOCUS | Sewer and Watermain

Excavation for sanitary system unearths thousands of archaeological artifacts

PETER KENTER

correspondent

A massive $17-million infrastructure project in the community of Saugeen Shores, Ont. was halted on the first day of construction in March, after construction crews unearthed a site containing thousands of archaeological artifacts dating back as many as 2,000 years.

The project includes an extension of the sanitary system to about 400 homes, watermain upgrades, stormwater system upgrades and road improvements.

The construction undertaken that day involved laying out a new sewer line in the centre of one of the roads passing through Southampton, a community that forms part of Saugeen Shores. Once the line was installed, the mains would be extended under the Saugeen River using directional drilling, then hooked up with an area sewage treatment plant on the other side.

An excavator uncovered the first artifacts a few metres from the Saugeen River, where the road slopes to the water.

“It’s not as though it was a huge surprise to find the artifacts,” says Saugeen Shores Mayor Mike Smith. “Other artifacts have been found nearby and the area abuts the Saugeen First Nation’s reserve. Prior to the construction project, however, we entered into a protocol with the Saugeen First Nation about just how we would handle such a find, who we would report it to and what would be expected of us. That agreement has served us very well.”

The project had been broken into four separate contracts by Dave Burnside, director of engineering services with Saugeen Shores, so the three remaining contracts continued uninterrupted.

In the meantime, the road construction area was subject to archaeological surveillance under the Ontario Heritage Act. The project area affected measures about three metres wide by about 50 metres long.

“We have some confidence that the archaeological area extends beyond the road, but that falls onto private property,” says Smith.

Among the thousands of items recovered are beads, musket flints, ceremonial spears, stone knives, pieces of pottery, and stone arrowheads, The discovery of dog burial sites in the area indicates that human remains may also be found nearby.

The final phase of the sewer project is the directional boring component, which is currently underway.

The entire project should be completed by fall.

The project is funded under the Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, with one-third paid for by the federal government, one-third by the provincial government and one-third by the municipality.

The terms of funding require substantial completion by March, 2011.

Print | Email | Comment