Abstract

During the 1930's a burial mound and associated domestic sites on the old Wattam farm, near Verona,Ontario, were dug in the search for Indian Relics.A newspaper report from the period indicates that numerous bodies had been buried at this location, and a wide variety of artifacts were discovered during the spadework.Although the burial mound has been totally destroyed and the majority of the Wattam collection is now dispersed, approximately one third of the artifacts are still available for study. Contrary to the picture of intertribal warfare and battles suggested by the newspaper report, analysis of the remaining artifacts indicates a more peaceable and long term use of the area.Artifacts associated with Terminal Archaic Red Ochre, and Early Woodland Meadowood and Middlesex burial complexes have been recognized indicating that this Shield edge site operated as a significant mortuary center over a broad time span.A variety of more utilitarian items from these periods indicates that considerable non-mortuary activity also took place in the area. The findings from the Wattam farm are discussed in the context of, and compared with, mortuary and domestic sites from the surrounding area.