PORT ANGELES — There was an ax handle and remnants of old bottles, but a dig for artifacts at the former Rayonier pulp mill site found nothing that the city expects would hinder its sewage overflow elimination project.
“We didn’t find anything I would determine as an intact archeological site,” said Derek Beery, Port Angeles city archeologist.
Beery, along with Lower Elwha Klallam tribal archaeologist Bill White, supervised the digging of 14 “test pits” in July along the future path of new sewage pipes.
The result was positive, Beery said, since nothing was found that would cause the city to rework its plans.
“We’re confident that we did the best job as we could . . . to avoid cultural resources,” he said.
The property is both the site of the Puget Sound Cooperative Colony and the Klallam village of Y’Innis.
Klallam tribal Chairwoman Frances Charles said she is pleased with the work the city has done to avoid the disruption of cultural artifacts, such as what happened with the uncovering of Tse-whit-zen village in 2003.
“We’re very fortunate that they [the city] keep us intertwined with where they are digging at,” she said.
Beery said nothing was found that could be distinctly labeled as native in origin.
The pipes will connect with a large tank on the former Rayonier site that will temporary store untreated sewage and stormwater.
Most soil disruption at the site will be supervised by an archeologist, Beery said.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
