In 2011, tide mills were discovered at a site on the South Branch of the Apple River in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia. This archaeological site, located close to the tip of the Chignecto Peninsula, contains the remnants of two mills: a water powered saw mill and a steam powered saw mill. The steam mill replaced the water mill around 1878. Both mills are slowly emerging from an eroding river bank located on a bend in the river.

Prior to 2011, the remnants of these two mills appeared to be the remains of crib work used in wharf construction. Originally, the not yet visible sections lay under approximately 30 cm of salt marsh. For several years, I wondered why a wharf or other large timber framed structure would be buried under the surface of a salt marsh. The identification of the timber framed structure occurred in early May of 2011. During the previous winter, as a result of ice, snow and flooding, a large section of the river bank was flushed away and what appears to be the shaft section of a campus arm waterwheel was exposed. With that discovery, I had the evidence that the river bend must have been the site of a water powered mill at one point in time.

The field work for the South Branch of the Apple River requires a hike in high rubber boots beginning at the river bank near the iron bridge (see Fig.1 and Fig.2 ). Before the marsh plants begin to grow one can walk on the salt marsh as in Fig.4. When this vegetation is waist to shoulder height, the hike must continue along the gravel on the river’s edge and/or along the river bottom (see Fig.3).

Hiking to the Mill Site

Fig.1	Fig.2	Fig.3	Fig.4	Text Fig.5	Text Fig.6