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

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.