Montreal doesn’t need more digging, except for this dig

When you drive on the island of Montreal, you can all too easily become extremely frustrated at the tremendous amount of road construction. It is impossible to travel anywhere in the city without seeing orange construction cones and detour signs. Even my own quiet street has been a major construction site this summer.

Since most of the streets in the city seem to be dug up, why not dig up more? Seriously, a dig planned for this fall interests me.

Last week, the city of Montreal issued a request for proposal for an archaeological dig at Place Vauquelin, next to city hall on the west side.

The city hopes the dig will uncover hidden treasures, such as artifacts from an old Jesuit convent and an 18th-century prison whose ruins are buried under city hall.

The convent was confiscated by the British after the conquest of New France in 1763. Five years later, the convent was turned into a prison.

Montreal City Hall. (Note the orange cones in front.) The archaelogical dig will take place in Place Vauquelin, next to City Hall, on the left in this photo. Source: GoogleMaps.

Montreal City Hall. (Note the orange cones in front.) The archaelogical dig will take place in Place Vauquelin, next to City Hall, on the left in this photo. Source: GoogleMaps.

Valérie De Gagné, spokesperson for the city, told La Presse archaeologists are expected to break ground this fall. They will look for traces of the convent whose construction dates back to 1692. The architectural structures included a chapel, church, residence for the Jesuits, courtyard, and vegetable garden.

You can read more about this story in the La Presse article.

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