By Pam Wright
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The preservation of ancient Indigenous artifacts has resulted in a delay for the Talbot Trail realignment project.
The effort is also costing Chatham-Kent more money.
At its June 23 meeting, council approved close to $1.4 million in contract amendments to cover the costs of an archeological assessment and First Nations field work participation.
In a presentation to council, AECOM archeologist Adria Grant outlined the process to date. Because governance of Ontario’s archeological sites falls under the Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism, strict guidelines must be followed.
According to Grant, an archeological assessment is a standard piece of every environmental assessment and if artifacts are discovered, further investigation is required. Because of what was found at the Talbot Trail project site, a stage four assessment was deemed necessary, some of which must be excavated by hand.
Grant said workers were “surprised” at the extent of what they found.
“In this stretch of this project, there’s a lot going on here,” Grant said, noting that when archeological staff began probing various locations within the site, they discovered pottery and ceramics.
Grant explained the relics are from the “woodland period” ranging from 600 BC up to the 1600s.
“It was at a time the Indigenous group started using pottery and it helps us date it to a certain time period,” she said.
As per the rules, Indigenous groups were invited to take part and observe field work, with Caldwell First Nation, Chippewas of the Thames First Nation and Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation coming on board.
West Kent Coun. Lauren Anderson thanked Grant for explaining the process.
“I’m very, very glad this process is in place and that we are preserving our Indigenous findings and that we do include them in this process as well,” Anderson said, adding the preservation of artifacts is worth the cost and delay.
“But I do understand there are some frustrations with the public over the delay,” Anderson said.
Utility services and the watermain are being relocated as part of the project, the report said. In addition, a few right-of-way properties still need to be acquired.
In 2019, Chatham-Kent closed a section of road due to erosion, leading to the launch of the current project administration describes as an interim fix that will move a section of the road north between Coatsworth Road and Stevenson Road.
In the future, Chatham-Kent is expected to look at a more permanent solution, as erosion is expected to continue.
The detailed design for the Talbot Trail realignment is underway and will be finalized this summer, a staff report said, with the construction tender going out following provincial approval of the archaeological work.
If plans go well, the contractor should be able to start the process this winter, with completion slated for summer of 2026.
