A number of perfectly preserved vaults have been found under Water Street in Carbonear where extensive road work is now underway.

Last week, work in the area was halted when a strange stone tunnel or drain was exposed during digging. The province’s Chief Archaeologist, Jamie Brake was called in to examine the find, which appeared to be attached to a room that had been destroyed.

Brake couldn’t speculate on the find at the time except to say that it was well preserved and appeared to date to the 19th century.

The Carbonear Heritage Society today posted pictures of two fully intact and perfectly preserved cellars that have since been found beneath Water Street extending from the basement of the old Great Eastern Furniture building. They say the structures were only feet from being damaged by road work, and they believe they can be preserved.

Brake received the news this morning and calls it a very exciting update.

He says the older structure that was missing when the drain was discovered may be related to the other structures recently discovered. Brake says the owner of the building has described the structures as wine vaults, which he says could very well be the case.