Prehistoric artifacts unearthed at a Sorel-Tracy rink site shed light on ancient Indigenous presence over 8,000 years ago in Quebec.
In an extraordinary archaeological breakthrough, ancient Indigenous artifacts dating back over 8,000 years have been unearthed at a construction site in Sorel-Tracy, northeast of Montreal. The site, slated to become a hockey rink, is now revealing secrets buried for millennia.
An Unexpected Find in Marine Sediment
As archeologist Yves Chrétien supervised a routine excavation last fall, a mini excavator turned up something remarkable — pieces of cut stone. These stones, discovered beneath layers of marine sediment from the long-gone Champlain Sea, bore unmistakable marks made by human hands between 6,150 and 8,200 years ago.
“Right away, I understood that something was happening that wasn’t very usual,” said Chrétien. “It was something special.”
Rare Glimpse Into an Ancient Way of Life
Although similar prehistoric sites exist in the area, most do not predate 4,500 years. This discovery significantly pushes the region’s known timeline of human activity further back. The marks on the stones suggest early inhabitants tested them for toolmaking, offering insight into the lives of the first people to walk the receding shoreline after the Champlain Sea vanished.
“These are sites that are very rare and very little known,” Chrétien noted. “Each new piece of information adds to our understanding of that era.”
No Tools Yet, But Clues Abound
Though no finished tools or settlement remains were recovered, the findings are invaluable. According to Chrétien, such discoveries help researchers piece together details about early material use and regional mobility. He still hopes to uncover a “diagnostic object” — a definitive artifact that can be dated more precisely, though that remains elusive.
More Than Just Prehistoric Relics
The excavation has also revealed traces of 18th and 19th-century life, including fragments of ceramics, clay pipes, and bottles, likely linked to nearby historic farms. Past digs in Sorel-Tracy have uncovered everything from prehistoric tools to military relics and objects from the 1787 visit of William Henry, a future king of England.
City Continues Excavation Before Construction
The City of Sorel-Tracy confirmed that archaeological work is ongoing and that construction of the skating rink will resume in the coming weeks once excavation concludes. All artifacts recovered will be cleaned, cataloged, and handed over to the city, which may exhibit them in the future.
Stay tuned to Maple News Wire for more updates on this fascinating dig and other stories that shape our past and future.
