ArchaeoExpeditions 2005 -  Canada

Adventures in Archaeology

The Metate Site

Dr. Finlayson

Project Point and Ceramics

Insitu Feature

Visit to reconstructed
Crawford Lake Village

    Photos courtesy of
    Dr. Finlayson / L. James

The Adventures in Archaeology Program will again generate the interest of volunteers as they explore the life of Iroquoian people in Canada 550 years ago.

Situated near Acton, Ontario with easy access from Toronto and highway 401, the Metate site is a research project of Dr. William Finlayson and This Land Archaeology Inc. This historic Neutral Indian village is the northern most settlement on top of the Niagara Escarpment in the Crawford Lake area. Between A.D. 1560 and 1580 it was home to at least 1000 people who lived in long-houses and exploited the local area for food.

This year Dr. Finlayson will continue to define a long-house structure and its associated functions which have revealed evidence of trade with beads and shell objects and big game food supply. This year participants will learn more about the structure as well as enjoy tours, lectures and hands-on field activities in a week long archaeological learning programme. Students under the age of 18 are welcome when accompanied by adults and groups of 4 or more should schedule their participation early in the season.

5-day Field Excavation and Laboratory Research Programs -  
August 23-27, 2004 - adults and children over 12 years of age

� A half-day orientation session with a tour of the Crawford Lake area, an introduction to archaeology, an introduction to the history of the occupation of southern Ontario and the Crawford Lake area by Native people, and a hands-on session with artifacts from the Metate site;

� A half-day tour of the Crawford Lake Conservation area including a tour of the reconstructed Indian village site, a walk around Crawford Lake, a trip to the edge of the Niagara Escarpment to see the 1300+ year old cedar trees growing on the escarpment fact (a desert environment) and a hike along the Bruce trail;

� Five half-days of excavation on the Metate site in middens (garbage dumps) to recover artifacts and other data about the occupants of the site. 

� Three half-days of laboratory work including the washing, sorting and cataloguing of the artifacts  excavated, processing of soil samples by water flotation, the sorting of carbonized plant remains (e.g. corn kernels, raspberry seeds, nut fragments) using a binocular microscope; and demonstrations of the use of computers in archaeology;

� A wrap up session at 4:00 pm on Friday afternoon. 

Lunch (sandwiches and soft drinks) is provided on site. Transportation to and from the site can be arranged if necessary.