Although Enbridge Inc. told the state that its studies of the lakebed in the Straits of Mackinac found no potentially culturally sensitive artifacts that could be disturbed by the Canadian energy company’s proposed tunnel for its Line 5 oil pipeline, a group of amateur researchers begs to differ.

The Detroit Free Press reported last week that a group of tribal researchers used sonar mapping to explore the lakebed near where lakes Huron and Michigan join at the tip of the mitten. They found evidence of stone artifacts that seem intentionally spaced and arranged, which they argue could be signs of tribal artifacts from thousands of years ago.

According to the Associated Press, the state agencies in charge of protecting the environment and the state’s historical treasures both are aware of the group’s findings.

Enbridge offered to share its findings with the group.

As the state considers final comments before the final green or red light is given to Enbridge’s tunnel project, we hope decision-makers look carefully at the potential finds, which may require more study to determine if they really are Native American artifacts.

If they do prove to be something historically significant, we hope careful consideration is given to make sure no lakebed operations disturb that history.

We can’t lose a piece of history in the quest for progress.

(THE ALPENA NEWS)