Last fall, while supervising an archeological dig at a site designated for a hockey rink northeast of Montreal, archeologist Yves Chrétien and his team stumbled upon significant findings when a mini excavator unearthed pieces of cut stone. These stones, dated between 6,150 and 8,200 years ago, were formed under the ancient Champlain Sea and exhibit marks that suggest they were manipulated by Indigenous peoples during a little-known prehistoric period.
Chrétien explained that the stones were excavated from ancient marine sediment layers, which provided the data necessary to calculate their age. He immediately recognized the discovery's uniqueness, describing it as something special due to its rarity compared to other prehistoric sites in the area that generally date back only 4,500 years.
The archeologist outlined the historical context of the site, previously submerged under the Champlain Sea. As the waters began receding over 8,000 years ago, it facilitated human activity along the shoreline. The marks found on the stones likely indicate where Indigenous people evaluated the rock for tool-making purposes. "We probably had people walking, circulating at the edge of the river, and, once they discovered a block of stone, tested it to see if it lent itself well to the making of tools," Chrétien elaborated.
Though no finished tools were discovered, which Chrétien attributed to the poor quality of the stone, he noted that understanding life during that time is essential. Insights gained from such finds can reveal patterns of material usage and sources for the materials that these ancient peoples utilized. "Each new piece of information we collect adds to the knowledge of that era, which is very little known, so every new element is a plus," he stated.
The City of Sorel-Tracy has announced that further excavations are ongoing and that the construction of the skating rink will commence once these activities conclude in the forthcoming weeks. In its past, Sorel-Tracy has yielded important historical artifacts, including other prehistoric items, remnants of an ancient military camp, and objects related to the 1787 visit of a future English king, William Henry.
In addition to the prehistoric stones, Chrétien reported the discovery of other significant artifacts such as pieces of ceramic, clay pipes, and fragments of bottles from 18th-century farms. These findings excite him, yet he still harbors the ambition to uncover a "diagnostic object," which could be linked definitively to a particular date or specific historical period. Although there were initial hopes that a carbon-dating spot had been found, it now seems less promising, but he plans to continue seeking such artifacts "up to the last minute."
All artifacts recovered during the dig will undergo cleaning and analysis before being handed over to the City of Sorel-Tracy, which may decide to display them to the public.
