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Archaeology in Oshawa

Jennifer WeymarkBy Jennifer Weymark/Archivist

Did you know that Oshawa has been the site of several archaeological excavations, two of which unearthed evidence about some our earliest settlers?

The first archaeological excavation to happen in Oshawa began in the late 1960s, when evidence of an aboriginal settlement was unearthed on the property of Howard McLeod at the corner of Thornton and Rossland roads. The excavation was lead by the University of Toronto and volunteers from the Oshawa Historical Society assisted with the actual digging. The items unearthed show that this was once the home to a Lake Ontario Iroquois village dating to about 1450 CE. The village consisted of approximately five longhouses that were surrounded by a high, protective wall called a palisade.

The second archaeological site related to aboriginal inhabitation was located at the corners of Taunton and Grandview Road North. This site, known as the Grandview Site, actually dates earlier than the McLeod site, as it was inhabited around 1400 CE. Much like the McLeod site, this was once home to a large Lake Ontario Iroquois village. This village was larger, consisting of approximately 12 longhouses. Unlike the McLeod site, there was no palisade surrounding this village.

Combined, these two excavations tell us the story of Oshawa’s earliest known settlers. Items unearthed show us that the people who lived here in 1400 CE were agriculturalists who grew maize, beans, sunflowers and tobacco. They were also hunters who relied heavily on deer and fish to provide necessary protein.

Combined, the two excavations unearthed more than 29,000 artifacts. The items excavated range from a variety of sizes of projectile points, pipes and pipe bowls and pottery shards. Several of the pottery shards are what show the relationship between the Grandview and McLeod sites. Pottery found at both sites has a very unique “slip” or glaze on them. These are the only two sites with this unique type of glaze and this shows that the people who settled at the Grandview site, moved to and settled at the McLeod site.

Oct 17 is International Archaeology Day. The Oshawa Community Museum is celebrating with an event highlighting the exciting information unearthed thanks to archaeology here in Oshawa.

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