TSMC has been forced to halt construction work at its CoWoS (Chip-on-Wafer-on-Substrate) advanced semiconductor packaging plant in Chiayi Science Park, Taiwan, after suspected archaeological ruins were discovered at the site.

According to a report from Taiwanese news outlet LTN, construction at the site began in May but was halted a month later in accordance with the country’s cultural procedures after the ruins were found.

The company has since put forward a proposal to move the location of the plant, submitting a maintenance and monitoring plan to the Chiayi County Government. In the meantime, TSMC has opted to move ahead with the construction of its second CoWoS facility at the park while the issues at the first site get resolved.

The nature of the archaeological ruins is not clear, but in a Google-translated copy of the LTN report, the find was described as “suspected relics,” with the Culture and Tourism Bureau handling the matter in accordance with cultural resources procedures.

The length of delay will also depend on the size of the archaeological ruins discovered, information which has also not been disclosed.

Citing people familiar with the development, LTN said it is not uncommon for ruins to be excavated during the development and construction process of large-scale developments such as technology parks.

In June 2023, ancient remains were found at a data center and cable landing station construction site in Guam, and the following month, a Bronze Age cremation site was uncovered at the SaxaVord Spaceport site in the Shetland Islands, off the coast of Scotland.

In both those instances, despite the discoveries on site, development ultimately went ahead.