Ancient artifacts found near Burlington waterfront

BURLINGTON Archaeologists assessing an expansion site for the Burlington wastewater treatment plant have excavated thousands of artifacts believed to date back as far as AD 700.

While conclusions about the discoveries are still tentative, the items appear to indicate two distinct occupations — an aboriginal settlement between AD 700 and AD 1300 and a Euro-Canadian settlement that dates back to the early 19th century.

“I’m shocked,” said David Ohashi, manager of wastewater design and construction for Halton Region. “It’s absolutely amazing to look at all the different layers and different generations that have occupied this site in such a built-up part of Burlington.”

Shaun Austin, senior archeologist for Amec, the global project management and engineering services company overseeing the excavation, said he was able to distinguish between the occupations by looking at the colour and texture of the soil where the artifacts were found. Those discovered in the dark, clay-like lower layer are likely from the aboriginal occupation, while artifacts found in the sandier, upper layer are likely from the Euro-Canadian occupation.

He said a team is screening the soil in square-metre sections at the site – an 80-metre by 30-metre plot of land covered by a massive climate controlled tent, just west of the existing Skyway Wastewater Treatment Plant property on Lakeshore Road.