The 'Nodwell' Indian Village Site

Photo by Alan L Brown - June 13, 2005

Plaque Location

The County of Bruce
The Town of Saugeen Shores
In Port Elgin, on the north side of Highland Street between Market Street and Crawford Street

Plaque Text

This important Iroquoian village site was discovered about 1900, and named after the family which then owned the property. Subsequent archaeological examinations have uncovered a mid-14th century village, consisting of twelve longhouses, from 13 to 42 metres in length, protected by a double palisade. It was probably occupied for about 10 to 20 years by a group of some 500 people who were predecessors of the Huron and Petun Indians. Although primarily farmers who grew corn, tobacco and probably pumpkins and sunflowers, they also engaged in considerable fishing and hunting. A large number of artifacts have been retrieved from this site including fragments of pottery cooking vessels, smoking pipes, arrow heads, adzes, awls and netting needles.