Artifacts recovered at Muskrat Falls site handed over to local elders
by The Canadian Press
Nalcor Energy says Innu artifacts, including food, tools and ceramics, recovered along Churchill River
MUSKRAT FALLS, N.L.—Nalcor Energy says thousands of Innu artifacts, including food, tools and ceramics, have been recovered near the Muskrat Falls hydroelectric project and presented to Innu elders.
Excavation began last year on the south side of the Churchill River in the area that will be developed for the project’s powerhouse and spillway.
An archaeological team returned to the area this year for additional recovery work, including eight new sites on the North Spur.
More than 40,000 artifacts were recovered from the site, described as ancient Amerindian campsites dating back to between 2,000 and 3,500 years ago.
One of the sites involved the placement of large rocks, which one elder said was used as an area for building canoes.
Recovery work is now complete for the year and materials will be handed over to the provincial archaeology office for further examination.
