In addition to the work planned on Sainte-Anne Street, certain archaeological digs will be taking place concurrently. Studies conducted in 2007, revealed that certain zones in the village core conceal archaeological resources of great potential value. Locations that will be investigated pertain to the “vestige” of the stockade chapel (1710) and the first Town Church (1728). In addition, this area could contain (according to the same studies), the remains of the first canal built during the former Imperial French regime.
In 2003, the north entrance wall to the former Town cemetery was discovered on the South side of Sainte-Anne Street located between the railway bridges. The founding of this cemetery was dated as early as 1831. More recently, in 2010, during Phase 2 (Sainte-Anne Street), the front wall of the old church was unearthed near the Rue Marguerite Bourgeois (see picture).
In Phase 3 (Sainte-Anne Street), the archaeological investigations plan consists mainly of point excavations. An archaeological inventory is planned for the City Hall parking lot. This inventory will be conducted using both a backhoe and hand excavations for the more delicate portions. These excavations will last approximately two weeks and should not affect the work on Sainte-Anne Street. These inventories will document the origins of a 19th Century home and an access ramp to the canal previously located in that area.
These archaeological investigations are funded by the City of Montreal and Hydro-Quebec.