Explore the Map
Donaldson site
44.5058° N, -81.3342° E
About
The Donaldson site is an archaeological site in Ontario that was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1982. The 3-acre (12,000 m2) site is the largest within the Saugeen complex, and is representative of typical habitation and mortuary practices of the Woodland period before the European discovery of the Americas, from about 200 BCE until 700 CE. It suggests that Bruce County and Huron County have been inhabited by Algonquian speakers for millennia. The Donaldson site was used primarily as a "seasonal harvesting station", mainly for fishing. It also may represent the earliest instance of broader social groups more characteristic of the Late Woodland period.
Historical Timeline
Journey through time and discover key events in this site's history
Radiocarbon-dated occupation
c. 200 BCE–700 CE
Excavation by Thomas Lee
1940s and 1950s
First documented discovery
1947
Excavation by James V. Wright
1960
Excavation by William Finlayson
1971
National Historic Site designation
1982-06-12
Canadian Register listing
2013-03-27
Archaeological Features
Unique architectural and cultural elements found at this historical site
Burial and Funerary Structures
Domestic and Habitation Structures
Environmental and Natural Features
Food Production and Processing Features
Frequently Asked Questions
Plan Your Visit
Tours, travel arrangements, and practical information
More Sites in Canada
Port Refuge
Thule winter village and Paleo‑Eskimo occupations, Devon Island
Petroglyph Provincial Park
Petroglyph site in British Columbia, Canada
Brooman Point Village
Late Dorset and Early Thule village, High Arctic Canada
Chinlac
Dakelh (Carrier) village site in British Columbia
St. Victor Petroglyphs Provincial Park
Petroglyph site in Saskatchewan, Canada
Kay-Nah-Chi-Wah-Nung
Earthen burial mounds in Northwestern Ontario, Canada