Archeologists look for star-shaped fort near Lunenburg Academy

A mystery that is more than 250 years old and buried near the historic LunenburgAcademy maysoon be solved.

A star-shaped fortbuilt by the British in 1753had almost melted away into historyuntil Saint Mary's University researchers found evidence of it through a geophysical survey.

The survey measures magnetism of the soiland picked up possible remnants ofastructure potentially integral to the 1700s struggle for control of Nova Scotia.

"The likelihood of finding something on the grounds is quite high," saidHenry Cary, an adjunct professor and long-time archaeologist who once worked for Parks Canada.

"It would certainly be pretty exciting to get a window on the very first features of Lunenburg."

Cary isleading a team of students in May to start the investigation, begun by professor Jonathan Fowler's research team.

They hope tofind physical proof of the fort, which signs point to resting quietly under grass outside the Lunenburg Academy National Historic Site of Canada at 101 Kaulbeck Street.

• Archaeologist digs up artifacts along border from 1700s

'Architecture of anxiety and fear'

The fort's history likely goes back to when Charles Lawrence, known for orchestrating the Acadian expulsion, settled just under 1,500 soldiers in the Lunenburg area in 1753.

At that time, about 20 Acadian families lived in the area, then known as Merliguesh, Mi'kmaq for "hilly."Lawrence soon demanded they and others sign an oath of allegiance to the British Crown, which would meanfighting against the French.

Thus began the Seven Years War, pitting the British against theAcadiansand Mi'kmaq.

"[The fort] reflects on a time in Nova Scotia's history which is much more tentative," said Cary.

"It's anarchitectureof anxiety and fear."

Star shape

English soldiers built this pentagon fortas a defense around the town. It'sfirst noted on a map possiblydrawn as early as1753 and on a second one in 1768.

The firstmap suggests itincluded a blockhouse andbarracks.

• A CBC timeline of Acadian history

Cary sayssharp bastionslinedthe five corners for guns, making the pentagonfort appear in a distinctive star shape.Dry ditches likelywere dug around its base to stop enemy soldiers from scaling the chest-height walls, hesays.

The earth and wood structure, though then integral to the British settlement's protection, no longer stands, unlike its contemporary, Fort Edwardin Windsor, N.S.

'Different mindset for urban life'

Residents wanted to expand and spread into the countryside after theSeven Years War was over,Cary says. They then likelyknocked down the fortto make room.

"Defensive architectureis based on fears, based on protection," said Cary.

"We don't have that in Lunenburg today. It's not required in our cities in North America anymore. It's a different mindset for urban life than we have today."

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Nova Scotia 'incredibly rich'

Much of Nova Scotia's archeological history remains unfound, Cary says, with many sites only recently examined, outside of major ones such as Louisbourg and Grand-Pr.

He says he hopes this isone more step towarddiscovering moreabout how the modern day came about.

"Nova Scotia's archaeology is incredibly rich," said Cary.

"Not only the historic periods, which is quite extensive, but then of course the indigenous history, which stretchesback thousands of years."