New Nursing Home has Archeological Assessment

Archeologist to examine site near Tideview construction
by Leanne Delong/Digby Courier
View all articles from Leanne Delong/Digby Courier
Article online since February 10th 2010, 8:00


An archeological assessment will be done this week at the Tideview construction site. Leanne Delong photo Archeologist to examine site near Tideview construction
An archeological assessment was scheduled to take place this week on Crown land near the construction site of the new Tideview seniors home.

The assessment is to determine whether aboriginals once occupied the area.

A small parcel of land, 66 by 100 feet, is involved near the Tideview project, but a larger area is involved in the town’s project to build a wastewater system along the abandoned rail bed to Smith’s Cove.

The former railway right-of-way is now Crown land, owned by the province’s Department of Natural Resources.

“In the past year we’ve been more engaged in aboriginal consultation, so what we’re doing involving Crown land, we’re working with Mi’kmaq chiefs to make sure we have a process we will advise them of situations where it involves land interest,” said DND spokesperson Dan Davis.

In Nova Scotia, anytime Crown land is being used or crossed or anything, the aboriginal community wants to make sure sites of historical nature aren’t being disturbed, says Digby mayor Ben Cleveland.

“So before the land gets disturbed there has to be a study done,” said Cleveland.

An archeologist is expected to determine this week if there was an aboriginal presence on either site, such as aboriginal campsites or burial grounds, Cleveland said.

The assessment will take place on a parcel of land where a roadway to the new Tideview site crosses the old railway corridor.

“It will also impact on the town’s wastewater project. They are going to be using the railway corridor from the town to Smith’s Cove, so an assessment also has to be done there,” he said.

Cleveland said he hoped both assessments would take place Feb. 10.

The town has not been involved with something like this before, he said.

If nothing of historical importance is found, construction projects will go ahead has usual. Cleveland will find out what the next step will be if something of historical value is found after Wednesday’s meeting.

The assessment does not interrupt Tideview construction because it is not on Crown land.