Final Report on the Archaeological Intensive Survey of the Long Island Section of the Spectacle Island-Boston Harbor-Long Island Sewer Line, Boston Harbor Islands, Massachusetts

Summary

The Central Artery/Third Harbor Tunnel Project proposed to construct a sewer service from

Spectacle Island to the City of Boston’s existing sewer system on Long Island for the disposal of

leachate and treated sanitary wastewater originating on Spectacle Island. This project called for

the construction of a pipeline and pump stations from the south end of Spectacle Island, across

Sculpin Ledge Channel to the southwestern end of Long Island. On Long Island, the pipe line

will extend northward under Long Island Road to the existing system at the Long Island

Rehabilitation Hospital and Recreation Center. Portions of the pipeline corridor maintained low,

medium and high potential for the presence of significant Native American and historic period

archaeological deposits. Of particular concern was the high potential for human burials in the

area of documented cemeteries. Archaeological investigations proceeded in two phases

consisting of 10 and 20 interval shovel testing in areas of high and medium potential

respectively, followed by machine-assisted scraping and trenching to ensure that no burials

would be impacted. Fieldwork resulted in the identification of two possible post holes, a metal

culvert, abandoned phone cable and a cobblestone pavement. An earlier ca. 1930s-40s road

surface was identified between .5 m and 1 m below the existing road surface. No evidence of

human internments was found and the pipeline project was recommended to proceed as planned.

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Record Identifiers

Central Artery/Tunnel Project Contract (s): C21AC

Notes

Redaction Note: Information relating to the location of prehistoric Native American sites in the area has been redacted from this document.

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