Analysis of Mariamante land scan under way

[ Originally published on: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 ]

GILL -- By the end of the month, the town hopes to know the extent of Native American artifacts and possible burials on the former Mariamante land the town had hoped to develop.

Last week, Doria Kutrubes of Radar Solutions International in Waltham used a special radar device to scan the area off Main Road.

The process took about three days, Town Administrator Tracy Rogers said. Now that the data has been gathered, Kutrubes has to compile and analyze it, which is expected to take a few weeks, she said.

''She can see a blip on the radar, but we can't tell what it means.''

In 2004, the town bought the 11.9 acres on the corner of Main and West Gill roads when Mariamante Academy, a private Catholic school planning to build a school there, moved out of the area. The town hoped to put the property back on the tax rolls.

In preparation for potential development, the town paid for two archeological studies of the site, which have unearthed Native American artifacts.

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