The men who lived in the bunkhouse would probably be amused to see archaeologists digging up their old tobacco tins and empty bean cans. Several archaeological studies have been completed, and students and members of the community took part in the labour intensive work.

PORCELAIN CUP 1997 Archeological Investigations and Impact Assessment. #13P1-1

The archaeological results add another dimension to the site archive, and the findings have been both industrial and domestic. In some cases, the archaeological information was collected from parts of the site where the physical structure is entirely eroded and impossible to repair such as the Japanese House.The piecemeal collected artifacts are therefore a very important link in putting together the whole 'jigsaw' puzzle. A museum displaying artifacts will be part of the Visitor Center at the site.

A separate study was completed of the Log Haul and Lumber Decks and another of the Blacksmith Shop. Both these studies were completed by Millenia Research, Inc. The study of the Blacksmith Shop was mostly environmental in focus because the slag produced as a by-product of a coal fueled boiler were contaminating the soil and creek. The study also produced technological information about forging at the site, and about the daily operations and methods of the blacksmith shop. (Chathan, Robert, A Twentieth Century Industrial Smithy, p.iv)	GLASS ALCOHOL BOTTLES 1997 Archeological Investigations and Impact Assessment. #13GG1, 13QQ1-12
	LICENSE PLATE 1997 Archeological Investigations and Impact Assessment. #42B1-1

TIN CANS 1997 Archeological Investigations and Impact Assessment. #22A1-2, 22L1-1, 22K1-3

Traditional blacksmithing is almost a byegone trade in North America. In a geographically isolated setting such as the R.B. Mclean Sawmill, tools and equipment sometimes had to be made 'from scratch', on the spot, and they were sometimes fashioned from the recycled parts of other machinery.