Quackenbush Provincial Park Explained

Quackenbush Provincial Park
Iucn Category:iii
Map:Canada Southern Ontario
Relief:yes
Location:Douro-Dummer, Ontario, Canada
Coords Ref:[1]
Area Ha:40.00
Designation:Cultural heritage
Established:1985
Governing Body:Ontario Parks
Url:https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/quackenbush

Quackenbush Provincial Park is a non-operating Ontario Park, located 40km (30miles) northwest of Peterborough, Ontario, within Lot 29 of Concession 12 in Dummer Township.

Archaeological site excavations between 1954 and 1973 revealed that there is a Huron-Wendat First Nation village buried on the site that has connections to their culture.[2] Because of this, the park is protected for its historical significance. There are no visitors' facilities, and recreational visits are discouraged.[3]

There has only been a small amount of excavation on the site, but it has unearthed signs of three longhouses (one containing a mass grave), as well as ecological matter from human occupation. The bodies found in the mass grave, all showed signs that they encountered violence, which would indicate that the known widespread conflict that occurred during the late 15th century also took place here.[4]

Notes and References

  1. 20 February 2024.
  2. Web site: Quackenbush Provincial Park Management Statement. May 1986. Ontario Government, Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. 19 May 2020.
  3. Web site: Ontario Parks - Quackenbush. Ontario Parks. Ontario Government, Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. 19 May 2020.
  4. Williamson. Dr. Ronald F.. 2014. The Archaeological History of the Wendat to A.D. 1651: An Overview. Journal of the Ontario Archaeological Society. 94.