The Archaeology of the Dunsmore Site: 15th-Century Community Transformations in Southern Ontario

Journal Article

The Archaeology of the Dunsmore Site: 15th-Century Community Transformations in Southern Ontario

David A. Robertson; Ronald F. Williamson
Canadian Journal of Archaeology/Journal canadien d'archéologie 27(1):001-061 (2003)

Abstract

Located in southern Simcoe County, Ontario, the Dunsmore site is a two-hectare, mid- to late 15th-century Iroquoian settlement that had a complex history-one that may have included both seasonal tenancies and year-round occupations. The settlement appears to have served as both a seasonal fishing camp and a semi-permanent agricultural village, perhaps involving members of several different communities. Through a review of the settlement pattern, artefacts, and subsistence data recovered from Dunsmore, an attempt is made to explore the role of such sites in the general trend towards community amalgamation, which is one of the hallmarks of 15th-century Iroquoian socio-political organization.

Résumé

Situé dans la région sud du Comté Simcoe, le site Dunsmore, qui s'étend sur deux hectares, est daté du milieu à la fin du quinzième siècle. Cet établissement Iroquoien a un passé complexe; un passé incluant possiblement des locations saisonnières, ainsi que des occupations à l'année longue . Le site semble avoir servis comme camp de pêche saisonnier, ainsi que de village agricole semi-permanent, impliquant probablement des membres de différentes communautés. En examinant le schéma d'établissement, ainsi que les données de subsistance et d'objets façonées retrouvés au site Dunsmore, on tente d'explorer le rôle de tels sites dans la tendance générale vers la fusion communautaire, une des marques de l'organisation socio-politique Iroquoienne du XVIe siècle.

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ISSN: 0705-2006 (print)  |  ISSN: 2816-2293 (online)