Discovered in an area outside of the 17th century village, this iron artifact was excavated using a block lift technique. To preserve the integrity of the artifact it was wrapped with layers of gauze which were then coated with melted wax. Once the wax hardened, the artifact could be removed safely from the ground. Once it was removed, it was brought to our conservation lab where the crew delicately removed the soil surrounding it. This is a time-consuming process but was necessary to recover and preserve the fragile piece. We know that it was manufactured of wrought iron and has some deterioration but by the shape of the artifact and the burial context, we’re led to believe that this may be a 17th century scythe. A scythe would have been used for the same purpose as we use it today! It’s a tool used for cutting crops such as grass or wheat, with a long-curved blade at the end of a long pole attached to which are one or two short handles.
Outside the Colony
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Hidden Treasure…
Loved our visit. Informative museum plus took the wonderful guided tour led by Tish. Learned so much about the colony, Lord Baltimore, and life from then until current archaeology work. Not too far from St. John’s and well worth the one hour trip. Nice Tea Room for lunch too. Nice people all around.
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They have a wonderful museum at the centre and excellent guided tours.
I highly recommend taking a guided tour if you’re interested in archeology or life in a 16th - 17th century colony.
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Definitely worth a visit. An interesting archeological site with a bit of everything in a quaint town.
A very friendly staff, a great gift shop, and interesting artifacts. Added bonus of nearby hiking, bird watching and whale watching.
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A must for history and archaeology buffs
It is hard to believe Europeans settled in North America over 400 years ago. This tour will give insight and a human side to these settlers, their hardships and their lives. One of our favourite things to see in Newfoundland after more than three weeks on the road. Ask for Isabella who is both knowledgeable and articulate.
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Brilliant!
What an amazing place, highly recommend!! We opted to do the guided tour, Evan did a fantastic job showing us around the sites and was lovely to chat with! Lori showed us the recreated kitchen at the end of the tour, she was very kind and answered our many questions :) Can’t wait to visit again some day!
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Lots of local history!
A great place to learn about local history. Lots of outdoor exhibits and a small museum with interesting artifacts. And of course, incredible ocean views. There is parking, a cafe and guided tours.
