Museum of Ontario Archaeology
Encyclopedia
The Museum of Ontario Archaeology (formerly The Museum of Indian Archaeology and Pioneer Life, The Museum of Indian Archaeology (London) and The London Museum of Archaeology) is a museum
located in northwest London, Ontario
. It is dedicated to the study and public interpretation of over 11,000 years of human history in Ontario, and is adjacent to a reconstruction of the Lawson Site, a 16th century Neutral Iroquoian
village. The museum offers permanent and temporary gallery space, a theatre, a classroom and children's activity space, along with tours of the reconstructed village and ongoing excavations. The museum is an Affiliated Research Institute of The University of Western Ontario. It houses over two million artifacts
recovered from archaeological sites
throughout Ontario, along with laboratory space for artifact analysis and an extensive library of archaeological books and manuscripts. In 2010, work began on a major expansion to the museum which will serve as a repository for the archaeological material collected in southern Ontario.
Wilfrid Jury continued to be involved with the museum until his death in 1981. In 1969, he encouraged Colonel Tom Lawson and members of the Fuller family to donate the land containing the Lawson Site to The University of Western Ontario. Construction of the Lawson-Jury building, the current home of the Museum of Ontario Archaeology, began in 1980 and was completed in 1981.
The museum is located on two archaeological sites. Prior to construction of the Lawson-Jury building, an archaeological assessment discovered the remains of a 4,000 year old campsite, now known as the Spook Hollow site. The reconstructed village sits atop the Lawson site, a Neutral Iroquoian village occupied in the 16th century.
. Around 1500 AD this plateau was the location of a densely fortified Neutral Iroquois village with a peak population of as many as 1,900 individuals. The site was known to amateur collectors since the mid 19th century. The first archaeological excavations of the site were undertaken by W.J. Wintemberg from 1921 to 1923, and Wilfrid Jury excavated the site through the 1930s and 40s. The site underwent extensive excavation in the 1970s in association with the development of the adjacent Museum of Ontario Archaeology. The Anthropology Department of The University of Western Ontario runs a field school at the site every year. The Lawson site was the first archaeological site in Ontario to be placed on the Canadian Register of Historic Places
.
The remains of at least 39 longhouses have been identified within the village along with numerous middens and pits. The entire village was surrounded by a series of palisade
walls and defensive earthworks
. Over 500,000 artifacts have been recovered from the site, providing valuable information about the daily lives of the site’s occupants. The inhabitants of the Lawson site were horticulturalists, growing corn, beans and squash (known as the Three Sisters
) on fields surrounding the village.
, CHIN
, The University of Western Ontario and the Virtual Museum of Canada
.
Museum
A museum is an institution that cares for a collection of artifacts and other objects of scientific, artistic, cultural, or historical importance and makes them available for public viewing through exhibits that may be permanent or temporary. Most large museums are located in major cities...
located in northwest London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
. It is dedicated to the study and public interpretation of over 11,000 years of human history in Ontario, and is adjacent to a reconstruction of the Lawson Site, a 16th century Neutral Iroquoian
Neutral Nation
The Neutrals, also known as the Attawandaron, were an Iroquoian nation of North American native people who lived near the shores of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie.-Territory:...
village. The museum offers permanent and temporary gallery space, a theatre, a classroom and children's activity space, along with tours of the reconstructed village and ongoing excavations. The museum is an Affiliated Research Institute of The University of Western Ontario. It houses over two million artifacts
Artifact (archaeology)
An artifact or artefact is "something made or given shape by man, such as a tool or a work of art, esp an object of archaeological interest"...
recovered from archaeological sites
Archaeological site
An archaeological site is a place in which evidence of past activity is preserved , and which has been, or may be, investigated using the discipline of archaeology and represents a part of the archaeological record.Beyond this, the definition and geographical extent of a 'site' can vary widely,...
throughout Ontario, along with laboratory space for artifact analysis and an extensive library of archaeological books and manuscripts. In 2010, work began on a major expansion to the museum which will serve as a repository for the archaeological material collected in southern Ontario.
History
The museum has its beginnings in the private artifact collection of Amos Jury and his son Wilfrid. The Jury collection was informally displayed at The University of Western Ontario beginning in 1927, but it was not until 1933 that space was formally set aside for it in the Lawson Memorial Library. Wilfrid Jury became the curator of the newly established Museum of Indian Archaeology and Pioneer Life, although the position was unpaid until 1945.Wilfrid Jury continued to be involved with the museum until his death in 1981. In 1969, he encouraged Colonel Tom Lawson and members of the Fuller family to donate the land containing the Lawson Site to The University of Western Ontario. Construction of the Lawson-Jury building, the current home of the Museum of Ontario Archaeology, began in 1980 and was completed in 1981.
The museum is located on two archaeological sites. Prior to construction of the Lawson-Jury building, an archaeological assessment discovered the remains of a 4,000 year old campsite, now known as the Spook Hollow site. The reconstructed village sits atop the Lawson site, a Neutral Iroquoian village occupied in the 16th century.
The Lawson Site
The Lawson Site is situated on a plateau between Medway River and Snake Creek, tributaries of the Thames RiverThames River (Ontario)
The Thames River is located in southwestern Ontario, Canada.The Thames flows west through southwestern Ontario, through the cities of Woodstock, London and Chatham to Lighthouse Cove on Lake St. Clair...
. Around 1500 AD this plateau was the location of a densely fortified Neutral Iroquois village with a peak population of as many as 1,900 individuals. The site was known to amateur collectors since the mid 19th century. The first archaeological excavations of the site were undertaken by W.J. Wintemberg from 1921 to 1923, and Wilfrid Jury excavated the site through the 1930s and 40s. The site underwent extensive excavation in the 1970s in association with the development of the adjacent Museum of Ontario Archaeology. The Anthropology Department of The University of Western Ontario runs a field school at the site every year. The Lawson site was the first archaeological site in Ontario to be placed on the Canadian Register of Historic Places
Canadian Register of Historic Places
The Canadian Register of Historic Places is an online, searchable database that includes listings of historic places important to communities, cities, provinces, territories, and the nation...
.
The remains of at least 39 longhouses have been identified within the village along with numerous middens and pits. The entire village was surrounded by a series of palisade
Palisade
A palisade is a steel or wooden fence or wall of variable height, usually used as a defensive structure.- Typical construction :Typical construction consisted of small or mid sized tree trunks aligned vertically, with no spacing in between. The trunks were sharpened or pointed at the top, and were...
walls and defensive earthworks
Earthworks (archaeology)
In archaeology, earthwork is a general term to describe artificial changes in land level. Earthworks are often known colloquially as 'lumps and bumps'. Earthworks can themselves be archaeological features or they can show features beneath the surface...
. Over 500,000 artifacts have been recovered from the site, providing valuable information about the daily lives of the site’s occupants. The inhabitants of the Lawson site were horticulturalists, growing corn, beans and squash (known as the Three Sisters
Three Sisters (agriculture)
The Three Sisters are the three main agricultural crops of various Native American groups in North America: squash, maize, and climbing beans ....
) on fields surrounding the village.
Affiliations
The Museum is affiliated with: CMACanadian Museums Association
The Canadian Museums Association is a national organization for the promotion of museums in Canada.The Canadian Museums Association is the national organization for the advancement of the Canadian museum sector, representing Canadian museum professionals both within Canada and internationally. The...
, CHIN
Canadian Heritage Information Network
The Canadian Heritage Information Network is a Canadian government-supported organization that provides a networked interface to Canada's heritage, largely through the World Wide Web. It aims to give access to Canada's heritage for both Canadians and a worldwide audience, by supporting the...
, The University of Western Ontario and the Virtual Museum of Canada
Virtual Museum of Canada
The Virtual Museum of Canada is Canada's national virtual museum. With a directory of over 3,000 Canadian heritage institutions and a database of over 600 virtual exhibits, the VMC brings together Canada's museums regardless of size or geographical location.The VMC includes virtual exhibits,...
.