Brigus is a small fishing community in Conception Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador. The earliest documented evidence of settlement in Brigus was in 1612. This makes Brigus one of the oldest communities in Newfoundland and Labrador. Unique to many of these smaller communities was the use of natural resources in the construction of buildings and property.Because of the abundance of flat rocks in the immediate area, many of the inhabitants built rock walls to define their property, protect their gardens, set aside fields and contain their livestock. Some of these rock walls were quite extensive and involved a tremendous amount of manual labour. The rock wall at this cache location is over 60 metres in length.
The rocks were consistently of a manageable size and collected from the surrounding cliffs and outcrops in the area. Today, several rock walls are still visible amongst the hills and cliffs surrounding Brigus. Many of the private homes in the community of Brigus have continued to make extensive use of rock walls in their gardening and landscaping. Rock walls are also used throughout the community in the construction of drains and ditches, and along small streams in an attempt to decrease erosion.
The rock walls in the hills above Brigus were built many years ago and some still remain intact today. Although the original owners are no longer here today, their rock walls are a lasting testament to their hard work and ingenuity.The surrounding cliffs and outcrops continue to provide an abundance of rocks that are there for the taking. Sadly, they are in very little demand. The climate of harsh winters, freezing, thawing and heavy rains continues to produce rocks as the sides of the cliffs are slowly being eroded.
This area lies within the Avalon Tectonostratigraphic Zone of the Newfoundland Appalachians. The rock formation comprises green siliceous siltstone and sandstone.
Check out this interesting article - Geological Aspects of Some Historical Buildings and Structures in Newfoundland. W.L. Dickson and M. King Link