Grand-Pré, 1 June 2010– After spending three weeks digging in the ground at Grand-Pré National Historic Site, the students enrolled in the archaeology field school are now back in Halifax sheltered from the elements and working in a lab at Saint Mary’s University. This part of their course represents the beginning of the long and painstaking process of research and analysis that follows any archaeological dig.

All the artifacts they found are washed, coded, and placed on cardboard trays. Each tray contains the artifacts unearthed by one person in a specific spot. Some areas produced many artifacts, whereas others only produced a few shards of pottery. If you look at the all the trays displayed on the tables in the lab, you can get a quick overview of the different types of artifacts grouped according to the context in which they were found. Except for nails and the remains of ox shoes, there are not very many metal objects in the trays because the pieces of pewter spoons, the buttons, buckles, and coins have been sent to the Parks Canada lab to undergo conservation treatment.

According to Jonathan Fowler, director of the field school and professor in the Anthropology Department, the vast majority of the artifacts found during the digs this year date from approximately 1760 to 1780. In other words, they are the vestiges of objects left by the New England Planters who settled on land in Grand-Pré a few years after the Acadians were deported. In this region of Nova Scotia, pieces of white porcelain indicate the presence of Planters. The Wedgewood family in England started making this very recognizable porcelain, known as creamware, around 1760.

The archaeologists were not surprised by the quantity of Planter artifacts because this section of the national historic site does not seem to correspond to the main zone of Acadian dwellings in Grand Pré. Since it appears to have belonged to the Church, this particular lot was less inhabited than other areas located on higher ground.

The students carried out digs along the 19-metre wall that was discovered by chance during the winter when a water pipe to the memorial church was being installed. When they were attempting to find the corners of this wall, the students uncovered a well, an alignment of stones, and part of a foundation. These architectural features have to be explored more closely in order to determine their origin.

Although there is still of lot of analytical work to be done, the large quantity of Planter artifacts seems to indicate that this wall is not part of an Acadian construction. This does not necessarily mean that the old Acadian St- Charles-des-Mines Church is not located somewhere in this area. However, as Jonathan Fowler points out, evidence in Winslow’s diary and in Bancroft’s diary would suggest that the church was located closer to the cemetery. The archaeologists need much more material proof before they can make definitive statements regarding the location of the old 18th century church.

When asked how they felt about their first archaeological experience, all the students said they enjoyed the friendly atmosphere in the field, the research and analytical work in the lab, and especially the opportunity to study Acadian history. One student from Ontario stated that he was ashamed to admit that he had never heard of the Acadians before he enrolled in Dr. Fowler’s course. The students also said that handling an object that had been hidden in the ground for 250 years was a very moving experience in itself..

Public digs at Grand Pré will take place from the 12th to the 23rd of July under the direction of Jonathan Fowler and Rob Ferguson. Anyone interested in participating for a day in these digs can write to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or telephone (902) 542-1952.

PHOTO 1 ( Jonathan Fowler): All the artifacts found this year between the orchard and the memorial church were cleaned and coded, then placed on cardboard trays which correspond to specific contexts.

PHOTO 2 (Jonathan Fowler): Megan Totten and Robert Shears examine artifacts in the lab at Saint Mary’s University.

PHOTO 3 (Jonathan Fowler): Research will be conducted on some of the particularly interesting artifacts, including (A) this piece from the neck of a wine bottle; (B) these pieces of partially melted windowpane; (C) this clay pipe bowl and stem; and (D) this piece of creamware plate.