Iroquoian Indian Village

Take a Step Back in Time... The long double-walled entrance to the village palisade takes you into a bygone way of life...

This fifteenth century Iroquoian Village was reconstructed on its original site to create a unique opportunity to expand our understanding and appreciation of Ontario's original people. Three sources of information are being used to reconstruct the village. Archaeological data determined the exact location of the main structures along with other inground features such as fire pits and posts.

**To see an interactive panorama of the village, CLICK HERE or on the picture.**


Historical documentation (the records of Jesuits and early explorers) provided details of the above ground portions of the longhouses, palisade walls and smaller village structures. Finally, the native peoples of today who carry on the traditions of their ancestors help us gain a stronger appreciation of native culture and its unique relationship with Mother Earth.

ABOUT CRAWFORD LAKE

A huge amount of excavation went into the reconstruction.

A Village Rises Again...

To help you explore and enjoy the village, we encourage you to follow the mounted information plaques located throughout the area. At the first plaque, "Silent Waters" will introduce you to the village and get you started on your journey back in time! Interpretive staff are available in the village to assist you with any questions.

The Turtle Clan Longhouse

The smallest of the five longhouses and home to an estimated 48 people, the Turtle Clan longhouse measures 25 metres in length and is 7.7 metres wide. These dwellings were built as high as they were wide and very long, the length relating to the size of the family. The height of the longhouses allowed smoke from fires to rise above eye level.

For more about this longhouse, and to see an interactive panorama of the interior, click here! ... or on the picture.

The Wolf Clan Longhouse

The Wolf Clan longhouse is a discovery facility designed to help visitors understand and appreciate native culture: past and present. The longhouse is divided into three separate areas. The Longhouse Interior Exhibit takes you back in time: the simutated archaeology site shows how this important science provides information on native history; and lastly the longhouse theatre provides an opportunity to experience native culture then and now.

Native Garden

Traditionally, the Iroquoian people grew their crops outside the village. Most of their food consisted of corn, beans, and squash; therefore, they required many hectares of land. Tobacco and sunflower were often grown within the village.

Village Population

Archaeologists estimate village populations by examining the numbers of longhouses and fire pits. It is believed that two families shared one fire pit and that the average family size may have consisted of 6 people. It is estimated that approximatety 250 people occupied this site over 550 years ago.

The Palisade

Archaeological excavations revealed no evidence of a palisade wall at the Crawford Lake site. However, because many other excavated villages were enclosed by a palisade, the Halton Region Conservation Authority chose to construct one. In this way we are better able to define and secure the village. The catwalks were built for defense purposes. Historical records reveal that they were often stockpiled with rocks to hurl down upon attacking enemies. Clay pots of water were also kept nearby to douse fires lit by attackers attempting to torch the palisade.

Who Lived Here?

The inhabitants of the Crawford Lake site are described as lroquoian. This can be a confusing term as it is often considered to mean the same as "Iroquois". The terms "Iroquois" and "Iroquoian" are distinct. Iroquois is usually restricted to the groups that allied as the League of the Iroquois or the Six Nations. The term Iroquoian refers to all the languages in the family, including those of the Huron (Wendat), Petun, Neutral and St. Lawrence Iroquoians, who were the early historic occupants of southern Ontario and Quebec. When the term Iroquoian is used it describes in a very general way the many native people of southern Ontario that shared a common cultural pattern.

The Crawford Lake area is a fascinating place to study the Iroquoian occupants of southern Ontario because the area is located along the boundary between the Huron and the Neutral people. The area was occupied in the l3th, l4th and early 15th centuries by proto-Huron people while in the 15th,16th, and l7th centuries, prehistoric, protohistoric and historic Neutral people occupied this area.

Credits: QuickTime Panorama photos: Max Payne QuickTime programming: Mike Loghrin All other photos, graphic design & html: Imre de Jonge

Halton Region Conservation Authority

R.R. 2 Milton, Ontario, Canada. L9T 2X6 (905) 338-1158 Fax: (905) 336-7014

Crawford Lake: (905) 854-0234

The Crawford Lake Conservation Area is one of ten principal information parks on the Niagara Escarpment.