ABOVE: Cora Peirce, a principal investigator with the Narragansett Indian Tribal Historic Preservation Office, from left, Jay Waller and Andrew Polta examine the ground Tuesday morning at the North Road library after the top layer of earth was excavated. Waller is holding a pestle that was unearthed.
An excavation of the library grounds on North Road was expected to be completed Wednesday, and preliminary findings from the digging so far have not revealed any Native American burial artifacts.
Aside from rocks and dirt, the only thing unearthed during the first day of excavation Tuesday was a pestle, according to Gene Mihaly, chairman of the library board of trustees. A pestle is an archaic tool with a rounded end used for crushing and grinding substances, such as corn, spices, and drugs, typically into a mortar. Like arrowheads, the Narragansett Indian Tribe does not consider this a sacred relic.
If a sacred relic was unearthed, it would stall the library’s planned expansion project, which has been in the works since 2016. The $4 million plan would add two alcoves to the sides of the building, replace the roof and rearrange the space inside the library used for children, teen and adult areas.
“There’s no concern about it,” said Lisa Sheley, director of the library. “It just further enforced that there was a tribe on the island. It didn’t delay any of the digging.”
ABOVE: A view from Swinburne Street as the excavation is conducted. The archaeological study was ordered to determine whether there are Native American artifacts on the property. If sacred relics or remains are found, a proposed expansion of the library could be in jeopardy. PHOTOS BY ANDREA VON HOHENLEITEN
John Brown, a medicine man who serves as an officer with the Narragansett Indian Tribal Historic Preservation Office, corroborated
Sheley’s opinion. He said nothing “overwhelming” was uncovered during the first day of digging.
“I am glad they found nothing of great concern,” Brown said. “I am happy for that.”
Excavation was completed Wednesday but the results were not known by press time.
The project was allowed to commence following an agreement signed Jan. 21 between Mihaly and Brown. Although Brown was not on the premises to oversee the excavation, like he was during the expansion in 1991, Cora Peirce, a principal investigator with the tribe’s preservation office, was on-site to examine any unearthed items.
According to the agreement, Conanicut Island was a historical settlement of the Narragansett Indian Tribe that contained known, and unknown, tribal burials and cultural resources. With an interest in preserving these artifacts, the trustees agreed to form a coordinated excavation crew with representatives from the tribal office and the Public Archaeology Laboratory. The trustees hired a team from the Pawtucket lab to adhere to the agreement, and municipal workers from the public works department were tasked with the manual labor.
ABOVE: Representatives from the Narragansett Indian Tribe and the Public Archaeology Laboratory oversee an excavation Tuesday at the North Road library to ensure no artifacts or burial remains are disturbed. The library is looking to expand the building’s footprint as part of a renovation project. Work is being done by the department of public works.
A final clause in the agreement says any future expansion at the 26 North Road library cannot disturb the grounds, including excavation, “without the concurrence” of the Narragansett Indian Tribe. The trustees, which said this clause ensures the ongoing collaboration and consultation of the two sides, said a future expansion of the footprint “is highly unlikely” in this age of e-books, laptops, and compact computers. If an expansion were needed, Mihaly said there always is the option to add a second floor.
The agreement between the two sides was a breakthrough following threats of legal action by the tribe in October. According to Mihaly, the tribe got involved after the trustees secured a $350,000 federal grant through the National Endowment for the Humanities. U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, a Jamestown resident, presented the grant during a news conference in April at the library. Accepting a federal grant, however, triggers a thorough review process, including archaeological research, Reed said. The board of trustees ultimately declined that grant.
BELOW: Cora Peirce, a principal investigator with the Narragansett Indian Tribal Historic Preservation Office, roots around in the earth in search of relics. PHOTOS BY ANDREA VON HOHENLEITEN
In the three months since the threat of litigation, however, the two sides reached an accord.
“If we are proposing to work with, or litigate against, depends on if they are acting unreasonably or are being less than truthful,” Brown said. “We did not find that with the library board. At some level, they were in the same position that we were in.”
“The tone has become increasingly warm,” Mihaly said. “This agreement demonstrates what’s possible when everyone works collaboratively to find solutions that respect the concerns and the rights of all.”
According to Brown, if the grounds are not considered to be sacred, he will support having the federal grant reinstated.
“We’re not even sure if we are eligible for the money, but we appreciate the spirit that he offered,” Sheley said.
“It was a very nice gesture,” Mihaly added.
The 1,710 square feet of earth that was excavated is needed to expand the building with two 562-foot alcoves. According to the plan, the work includes replacing the roof and upgrading the mechanical systems. The plan also moves the areas for children and teenagers, respectively, to the north and south sides of the building along the westernmost wall parallel with North Road.
The project also would move a reading room for adults and space for the local history collection to the current children’s room directly south of the main vestibule. A walkway for deliveries would wrap around the main auditorium from the parking lot to the former museum. The original design also included a pergola over that delivery walkway and an elevator from the basement to the main floor. Both have been scrapped, and the elevator has been replaced with a dumbwaiter.
Mihaly said the trustees are just waiting to find out how much money will be awarded for the project by the Rhode Island Office of Library and Information Services. In an ideal world, that figure would be received by February, then the board could solicit bids and select a contractor in March.
“But it depends on outside forces,” Sheley said.