THE LABORATORY
A natural laboratory open to the public

Don't miss this unique opportunity to discover thousands of artifacts that bear witness to the lives of the men, women and children who have inhabited Pointe-du-Buisson for the past 5,000 years.

The laboratory, a meeting place for the public and researchers, houses almost 4,000 artifacts from the 15 archaeological sites of Pointe-du-Buisson.

In this large-scale laboratory, you will discover the scientific approach used by archaeologists to reconstruct the past.

THE INTERPRETATION PAVILION
Exhibition A Time of Plenty: Fishing at Pointe-du-Buisson

For thousands of years, the bountiful waters of Pointe-du-Buisson attracted generation after generation of fishermen. The Pointe was identified as a place of abundance in early documents and is still remembered as such by some older people. Archaeologists have discovered the many traces left by those who are now all but forgotten.

This original and dynamic exhibition guides you through Pointe-du-Buisson's 5,000 years of fish stories. A central attraction is a full-sized reconstruction of an Iroquoian fishing hut that shows how Amerindian families lived here when they set up their summer fishing camps at Pointe-du-Buisson between 1,500 and 1,000 years ago.

Archival photographs show legendary catches, and examples of fishing gear recall past traditions.

THE PIROGUE
Is this pirogue 600 years old?

Come admire a remarkable discovery! A five-metre long pirogue was found in 1986 by an amateur diver in lac Gour, near Chertsey. Archaeologists have voiced two hypotheses about its age: it is either historic or prehistoric. Well, which is it? Learn about dating methods with our trained guides.

To learn more about this Quebec, download the following document (4,2 MB)
Text and photographs courtesy of the Centre de conservation du Québec and the Ministère de la Culture, des Communications et de la Condition féminine du Québec.

Acrobat Reader required - download Acrobat Reader.

THE FOSSIL GARDEN

The Pointe-du-Buisson Archaeological Park displays fossil traces that originate in the Beauharnois region and are recognized by all North-American specialists. Come admire traces left by enigmatic animals that trod the earth 500 million years ago.