Could fish have built it?

Map of Boston in 1775, when the city was almost an island.

Map of Boston in 1775, when the city was almost an island.

“This is a city that has been created by man, by humans. When the English got here, most of it was underwater…Boston’s a city that people have built… and I find it exciting to see that continuing to happen.’’

— Frederick P. SalvuccI (born 1940) (civil engineer, former Massachusetts transportation director and a prime mover in the “Big Dig’’ project and MBTA expansion.