Archeologists working with the California High Speed Rail Authority are digging up parts of Chinatown to determine if the rail project could have an adverse impact on any cultural relics that may be in the ground, reports the Fresno Bee.
“This gives us an idea of whether we might start finding things when construction happens, which would not be ideal,” said Dana McGowan of a consulting firm hired by the Rail Authority.
Old maps show the area is at the dividing line between Chinatown and Euro-American property. A flyer distributed by the Rail Authority states “the area might have included a general store and other small businesses, a dance hall, several residences, a gambling hall and — possibly — an underground network of tunnels.”
“This lot has a lot of rich history,” said senior archaeologist Stacy Schneyder.
Several in the Chinese community as well as others have been critical of the dig effort and lack of input from concerned citizens. You can read more about that along with future plans for the area in the Fresno Bee.
