Nodwell Revisited

Heritage

(continued)

Nodwell Site Diorama at the Bruce County Museum and Archives

Yesterday we featured a picture and a caption by a reader of the Saugeen Times.  The reader was calling attention to the sparse recognition of the historic Nodwell site. 

The Saugeen Times called attention to the wonderful Diorama at the Bruce County Museum put together by noted and local archaeologist Dr. Bill Fitzgerald.

It appears the rich history of the area that goes back many centuries with First Nations peoples could be exploited in the following ways:

• Establishing chairs for archaeology at the Museum with some sort of full time or semi-full time salary.  This could be supported by a large company or possibly the national organization of some service organization in conjunction with a University.
• Highlighting sites with more descriptive signage.  For example the Nodwell Site and other land sites are marked with the normal historic plaques which are all words and another sign that can be seen in the picture sent in by the reader next to the plastic playground toys.  It would be good to have a set of proper plaques showing what the site looked like in the 1400's or earlier.

How could this be supported?  We have noted that little or no attention is given to the tourist impact of programs that would draw both visitors and students to the area.  If an on-going archeology program was run for 5 months a year, it would be wonderful for tourism.  The winter months could be used for classification and course preparation for the spring-summer-early fall term.

If somebody has a large estate it would be well to think about an endowment for a program like this.  We have fertile marine and land based sites that could occupy professionals for the next hundred years.

Some weeks ago Port Elgin was looking for a tagline to mark the gateway signs at the entraces to the Town.  How about "Home of Nodwell, occupied from 1400"

It would not work because there is not signage that supports the story, but visitors could be directed to the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre just up the road in Southampton.

If you want to know more about Nodwell go to the Bruce County Museum and see the Diorama.  If you'd like to read about it, then refer to

The Nodwell Site, Archaeological Survey of Canada, Paper No. 22 by Wright, J.V  Published by the National Museum of Canada.  Click here to buy it

(next column)

09/04/2009 07:41 PM

Dr. Bill Fitzgerald assembles the Diorama

Another View

Looking over the fence looks realistic

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