Mush Hole archaeology may answer old questions

EAGLES NEST/BRANTFORD – Archaeologists executed a Stage 2 investigation of the front lawn of the Mohawk Institute last week in preparation for a planned Peace Park. To do so, the old apple trees that once provided income for the school but not sustenance for its students, were removed two weeks ago.

Test holes were dug that revealed an abundance of artifacts from the early days of the school and pottery from ages earlier. The school was built on the site of the Mohawk Village, which Joseph Brant set up in 1784. The first mechanics school was built around 1824.

“Phase 3 is when we dig one metre square pits,” explains project leader Aylk Mykytey, of Archaeological Research Associates Ltd., base in Kitchener and Ancaster.

She explains that if enough features are found to warrant further digs, a Phase 4 dig will begin, which is an extensive dig of the whole area.

Legends have surrounded this orchard of apple trees for generations. The legends talk of the bodies of small children and fetus’ born and died at the school from sexual contact between older students or assaults from teachers and staff being buried at the foot of the apple trees.

Although there has been no evidentiary proof to date, the dig should answer that question once and for all.

Mykytey, says her team has found lots of architectural artifacts and remains of buildings along with a few marbles, some ceramics, and a few small pieced of pre-school clay pottery which may go back to before contact.

What they have found so far is scattered broadly about indicating the grounds have been disturbed many times over the years, especially in the back of the building.

Monitoring the dig is Sandy Sault from New Credit.

“They are great,” she says of the Archaeological crew. “If human remains are found everything stops and the police are called in.”

“We have found no human remains to date,” confirms Mykytey.

Among the finds were pottery pieces and a well-preserved projectile point from long before the school was built.

So far, most of the finds have been near the slope of what was the girls’ side of the building. Stage 2 is expected to be complete this week.

The team intends to look closer in a few areas that have been identified through interviews with former students as possible sites of interest. Digs may continue this week.

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