The city started removing debris from the demolished Natchez Pecan Shelling Co. Factory Thursday morning under the watchful eye of an archaeologist.

The Mississippi Department of Archives and History issued a permit to the city to remove the debris in February. The permit requires an MDAH-approved archaeologist oversee the debris removal and make sure anything of historical significance is preserved.

Thursday, that archaeologist was Natchez resident “Smokye” Joe Frank.

“I’m basically looking at anything over 50 years old,” Frank said. “Those would be things that would have the most historical significance.”

So far, the only thing he said he had seen that would qualify would be the concrete sign that displayed the company’s name.

But pieces of the sign can’t be found, he said. The “pecan” and “atchez” part of the city’s name are missing, he said.

“They could be under the debris,” he said.

“I’m hoping if someone took them, they will be gracious enough to return them. If they were moved, it’s probably that the person wanted to preserve them, and they’re going to be preserved.”

The rubble not of historical significance is being hauled to Triad Disposal in the county, Director of Public Works Eric Smith said Thursday.

Removing the rubble, the largest amount he said he had worked with in Natchez, would not be a quick or easy task, Smith said.

“Weather permitting, it will probably take a week and a half, or seven or eight working days,” Smith said.

Mayor Phillip West said the city planned to fill an open cistern on the property, probably after the debris was cleared.

Developers Worley Brown, LLC, are paying the city to remove the debris, West said.

“The permit was issued in both of our names,” he said. “We agreed to remove it. They will be compensating the city for its time in doing that. Public Works is keeping a tab on man hours and equipment, but it’s not going to be a major cost.”

If the Mississippi Supreme Court rules that the city improperly sold the land to the developers, among other things, the city will not be paid for removing the debris, he said.

West ordered the state landmark demolished in February, citing public safety.

The state attorney general’s office immediately filed a restraining order to keep the city from doing anything further to the site.

The state and city recently reached a settlement where the city would remove the debris but not disturb the ground.

“The method has to be a manner that will not further harm the site,” Harold Pizzetta, special assistant attorney general, said.

“That’s all this permit allows them to do. They’ve got to get a permit to do anything else to that property.”