Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Simpson (Sep 06/02) - Monday, Aug. 26 was supposed to be the last day of the archaeological dig at Heritage Park.

That all changed when Heather Passmore struck upon a layer of birch bark while digging in the final trench. Then another layer, mostly birch and some spruce, was discovered even deeper in the trench. Finally a third layer was uncovered.

Aaron McNab looks over some artifacts with a magnifying glass during an open house last Wednesday afternoon at McPherson House. - Derek Neary/NNSL photo

Archaeologist Jean-Luc Pilon built a makeshift frame and covered it with plastic so he could continue to dig even in the rain on Wednesday morning.

"The last day, the last pit keeps all the surprises. There's no way we could have anticipated this," said Pilon, who shovelled to a depth of 1.4 metres. "That's the nature of archaeology. Every new scoop of dirt can make you re-think everything you thought you knew."

The top two layers of wood contained square nails, indicating that a structure may have been located at the site in the late 1800s.

Fish scales, fish bone, a fire-cracked boiling stone and a granite cobble were found near the bottom layer of wood. The boiling stone is the key, as it was used by aboriginal people, not Westerners. It's possible the deepest layer of wood may pre-date European contact, Pilon speculated.

"Something important was going on here, or nearby," he said, gesturing towards the deep but narrow trench.

Stephen Rowan, a member of the Fort Simpson Historical Society, said he is excited by the prospects of the dig.

"I'm more interested than before," said Rowan. "I think this will be a real service to the village. This is an interesting site, worth further investigation."

Pilon concurred, recommending that the old Catholic rectory not be moved atop the site yet.

"There's no way. There would have to be more excavation or more substantial testing," he said, adding that he may return next summer. "I certainly tip my hat to the Historical Society for undertaking this."

The artifacts found over the past two weeks will be catalogued at the Museum of Civilization, Pilon's workplace, in Hull, Que.

The items will ultimately be stored at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre in Yellowknife.

Pilon plans to have some of the fish bones and bark radiocarbon-dated, which will reveal their age, plus or minus 30 years.

Not precise, but the method may shed a little more light on the mystery.

Nothing indicates the site is the remnants of Fort of the Forks, but it is significant nonetheless.

"The story got really complex, really quickly," said Pilon. "I leave with a lot of questions."