Hope Remains Ancient Archaeological Site Can Be Saved

[Adsos Letter]

SOURCE: The Epoch Times
By Joan Delaney
Epoch Times Staff

VICTORIA—A burial ground and archaeological site dating back millennia are at the heart of a long-running saga between a developer and a First Nations community in British Columbia.

Archeological excavations at the Somenos Creek site near Duncan on Vancouver Island have uncovered material as old as 4,600 years. The burial ground, which was in use for 600 years, is about 1,800 years old.

An excavation undertaken by the University of British Columbia (UBC) in 1994 revealed a shell midden, graves, and artifacts that include a collection of chipped slate microblades, ground stone knives, bone awls, and toggling harpoon valves.

Of 33 additional excavations in 2007, 30 were of archaeological value. One of the more remarkable finds was a 2,000-year-old large architectural feature that could be a house foundation or a hearth, says archaeologist Eric McLay.

LINK: http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/25972/

[Alameda]

1. Material 4,600 years old...........but only 1,800 years old?

.....grrr....I really am getting to hate "developers"............it seems most of the time they are destroyers. Interesting article, thank you for posting it.

[imdjh]

3. The cemetery is 1800 years old. Used for 600 years. But other material in the area is as old as 4600

[imdjh]

2. Saved in what respect?

SOP is to excavate such places, let the universities gather what they can, and then continue the development. There is no reason to believe that this site is related to any extant people, and certainly no reason to give it any more or less consideration than any other anonymous site. This continent is littered with the remains of the human past. You can't make every unmarked grave a national monument.

[supernova]

4. It's a First Nation site

the local tribe wants to buy it, but they don't have the money right now. Until then, then the site is in limbo.

It's making the developer antsy. :D

[imdjh]

5. About now, I would think the developer would prefer to sell it to them rather than develop.

Is Vancouver a real estate hot spot?

There was a developer in Virginia who almost specialized in this sort of thing. He would buy a "sensistive" piece of land, threaten to build townhouses or retail on it, and then sell it to the state for a sizable profit. Not bad for a short term investment, some bulldozing, and a press release.