Lawson Site

From Hobby to Archaeology - The Wintemberg Excavations (1921-1923)

The Wintemburg map of the Lawson Site showing surrounding terrain and Wintemburg's excavations.

William Wintemberg's 1921-1923 Excavations at the Lawson Site

William Wintemberg and the Geological Survey of Canada

William J. Wintemberg conducted the first extensive excavations of the Lawson site over the summers of 1921, 1922 and 1923. His work was eventually published in 1939 as Bulletin No. 94 of the National Museum of Canada. Wintemberg, together with Harlan I. Smith and Diamond Jenness were the first members of the Geological Survey of Canada's archaeology division.

- Research by Matthew Beaudoin (State of the Lawson Site 2015)

A bespectacled Wintemburg seated in a wooden folding chair in front of a canvas tent, reading the newspaper.

Wintemberg at the Lawson Site

A Sense of the Scale of the Lawson Site

Wintemberg excavated 28 middens, uncovered and mapped the floor of a longhouse, and collected approximately 43,000 artifacts. Artifacts included ceramic sherds, bone fragments and numerous stone, clay and bone tools. Wintemberg also mapped 11 hearths and 120 pit features in three seasons of fieldwork.

- Research by Matthew Beaudoin (State of the Lawson Site 2015)

A black and white image showing a raised earth area in a dense forest. A trail is just visible along the earthwork.

Lawson Site Earthwork - 1920s

A white tent stands out against the forest in this black and white image of the Lawson Site from the 1920s.

Lawson Site Forest - 1920s