Free tours of 19th century parliament dig in Old Montreal start today

Free tours of one of Canada's most important archaeological digs start today as part of an exhibition atthe Pointe--Callire archaeological and historic site in Old Montreal.

The site of the Parliament of the United Province of Canada is being excavated in full view of the public until October.

The building housed the legislature for five years until it was destroyed by a fire during a riot in 1849.

The historic site was buried under a parking lotfor about 90 years and archeologists have been working to dig up the remains since 2010.

"It's to understand the structure, it's to understand the functioning of the people inside it," said Pointe--Callirechief archaeologist Louise Pothier.

• Museum finds location of Montreal's first European settlement, Fort Ville-Marie

"We know that the second floor, which was the higher floor, had the library. The most important library inCanada was there. So we found some traces of it," Poitier added.

The City of Montrealis investing $6 million in the project, hopingtohavehalf the site excavated by the end of the year.

The excavation is currently at the one-and-a-half metre mark.

"Imagine when we get to five metres," Pothier said.

A learning experience

The united Province of Canada was created in 1841 when theprovinces of Lower Canada and Upper Canada were brought together by the Act of Union.

The act established a single government and legislature.

Archaeologist Coralie Dallaire-Fortier said learning about the site is in Canada's best interest.

• Verdun archeological dig turns up 1,000-year-old artifacts

"Most people don't really know the real history. In schools we don't learn everything. And some information [we receive is] not entirely true," Dallaire-Fortier said.

Pointe--Callire is offering tours every half hour during the day, from Wednesday to Sunday.