Shubie Park hosting archaeological dig this weekend
Posted Sep 25, 2015 06:33:56 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
DARTMOUTH – Have you ever wanted to try your hand at archaeology?
You can this weekend in Shubie Park, for at least a day or two.
People are invited to take part in a public archaeology dig at Shubie Park in Dartmouth on Saturday and Sunday, south of the Fairbanks Centre near the picnic landing on the canal’s east side.
Archaeologist Laura De Boer said the public dig is an effort between Industrial Heritage Nova Scotia and The Shubenacadie Canal Commission to help people learn about archaeology.
“It’s also to increase awareness of our industrial past in Nova Scotia, which is a surprisingly diverse and broad field that a lot of people aren’t aware of,” De Boer said.
The big show, according to De Boer, will be assisting to excavate a structure built during the original construction phase of the Shubenacadie Canal which lasted from 1826-1831. It’s believed to be a bunk house or worker’s cottage from the late 1820’s.
“It’s not 100 per cent clear whether this would have been a bunk house for multiple individuals, or whether it would have been a small family unit, but my hypothesis right now is that it was more of a bunk house.”
De Boer said because of the company’s financial difficulties, construction on the canal was halted for a few decades, and was essentially obsolete by the time it was officially completed.
The dig will run from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
