Celebrating Archaeology Month in Quebec at the Pointe-à-Callière Museum
Archaeology Month in Quebec
Every year, from August 1 to 31, Archaeology Month invites the general public to revisit and celebrate Quebec’s archaeological heritage. Created in 2005 by the Archéo-Québec network, this national celebration, unique in Quebec and Canada, offers several activities spread across all regions: site visits, archaeological dig simulations, conferences on the subject, educational workshops for young people, in short, so many opportunities to immerse themselves in history, from the First Nations to more recent times.
This program is made possible by a vibrant community of museums, municipalities, cultural organizations, academics and archaeology enthusiasts, whose goal is to make the discipline accessible while nurturing our collective responsibility to the cultural and historical heritage of our province and country.
As part of Archaeology Month, the Pointe-à-Callière Museum, Montréal’s Archaeology and History Complex, is presenting the Montréal Capitale exhibition, installed in the former Barracks No. 1 on Place D’Youville.
An experience rich in discoveries
From 2010 to 2017, the museum’s archaeological digs at the site of St. Anne’s Market and the former Parliament of the Province of Canada unearthed more than 350,000 artifacts. The exhibition presents nearly 280 pieces, many of which are on display for the first time. These objects reveal the effervescence of mid-19th-century Montreal, a time when the city assumed the role of political capital: the Sainte-Anne Market became the Parliament House (1844–1849), where prominent figures such as George-Étienne Cartier, Robert Baldwin, and Louis-Hippolyte Lafontaine stood. It was also there that French was recognized as the official language of Parliament (as of August 14, 1848).
A renewed immersion
The exhibition offers a unique immersion through breathtaking 3D models of St. Anne’s Market and the Parliament House, allowing visitors to visit these historic sites as if they were there. Testimonies from archaeologists and historians enrich the visit, demonstrating the extent of the research work and the heritage value of the site.
A duty to remember
The preservation of this heritage and its enhancement is a duty of memory towards the men and women who preceded us and a valuable legacy for future generations.
– Louise Pothier, Curator and Chief Archaeologist, Pointe-à-Callière Museum
The Month of Archaeology therefore offers an exceptional platform to discover our past from a new angle. Through accessible and interactive initiatives such as the Montréal Capitale exhibition at Pointe-à-Callière, it weaves living links between our history and the field of archaeology.
