Significant archaeological work in 2001

Archaeological work in 2001 resulted in a number of significant finds around Newfoundland and Labrador particularly at the Placentia, Cupids, Bird Cove and Ferryland sites said Kevin Aylward, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation.

"The 2001 season was an exciting year for archaeology," said Minister Aylward. "With increased focus on research, archaeologists carried out surveys of new areas and continued with more intensive excavations at existing sites such as Ferryland and Cupids. Not only do these findings help us preserve and gain further insight into our culture and heritage, they also have become leading tourism attractions in their respective areas."

At Ferryland on the southern shore of the Avalon Peninsula, work led by Dr. James Tuck uncovered a number of interesting artifacts such as early ceramics, tobacco pipes, gold rings, silver buckles and evidence of several buildings including a large house built around the mid 17^th century by Sir David Kirke who took over the Colony after Lord Baltimore.

At Bird Cove on the Northern Peninsula, archaeologists investigated three sites and uncovered remains from Dorset Palaeoeskimo and Groswater Palaeoeskimo occupations. This archaeological research has become the focal point for a growing tourism project with 10 bus tours having visited the interpretive centre and sites last year. As well, work began on a trail system linking the cultural, geological and biological attractions in the area.

Work led by Bill Gilbert continued at Cupids in Conception Bay North, the oldest English settlement in Canada. Roughly 20,000 artifacts were uncovered during 2001 bringing the total number of artifacts recovered to date to roughly 90,000. The remains of a 17^th century building, including a stone wall and flagstone walkway, were also uncovered, the fourth 17^th century structure uncovered at Cupids to date. One of the more exciting artifacts found was an Elizabethan silver fourpence coin dated by its mint mark to between December 1560 and October 1561.

There are plans to revisit a site in Placentia on the southwestern portion of the Avalon Peninsula due to its significant age and its remarkable state of preservation. A crew led by archaeologist Amanda Crompton consisted of one archaeology graduate student from MUN, two archaeology undergraduate students and six local residents from the Placentia area. They spent 10 weeks excavating the Vieux Fort site, the first fortification constructed by the French between 1662 and 1685. Artifacts uncovered during the 2001 excavation are currently being processed in a laboratory but it is expected the site will produce between 7,000 and 8,000 artifacts.

Other sites around the province which produced important and interesting finds include the Porcupine Strand Archaeological Survey located on the south-central coast of Labrador, the Burnside Heritage Foundation�s operations in Bonavista Bay, the Renews Archaeological Survey on the southern shore, the Hoffnungsthal site in Makkovik (Labrador�s first Moravian Mission), Dildo Island in Trinity Bay, Adlavik Harbour near Makkovik in Labrador, and Phillip�s Garden and Point Riche in Port au Choix. Systematic survey worked was also continued on the west coast of the Northern Peninsula.

Photo #1:  Tourists at the Colony of Avalon Archaeological site in Ferryland.

Photo #2:  Excavation of an 18th Century Westerwald Tankard in Renews.

Photo #3:  Excavation of Palaeoeskimo site, Point Riche, near the community of Port au Choix

Media contact: Vanessa Colman-Sadd, Communications, (709) 729-0857.

2002 03 25                           9:45 a.m.