TMHC War of 1812 Artifacts

War of 1812 Artifacts Archaeological excavations conducted by Timmins Martelle Heritage Consultants Inc. (TMHC) uncovered a small number of artifacts from the War of 1812. These included a musket ball, two buck shot and a caltrop. Click here to see image examples. The musket ball measured between 16.5 mm (0.65 inch) and 17.0 mm (0.67 inch) in diameter, and both buck shot measured in the double naught size range, that is, between 8.4 mm (0.33 inch) and 8.9 mm (0.35 inch) in diameter. These sizes were consistent with the buck and ball load American troops employed during the War of 1812. Buck and ball was a paper cartridge containing one musket ball and two or three buck shot. The purpose was to increase the chance of hitting a target with the bonus possibility of hitting multiple targets with one shot. The smaller buck shot might not kill a target but could cause enough injury to remove a soldier from battle.

buck and ball — Buck and Ball found during excavations by TMHC

Work Study Profile: Marta

My name is Marta and I’m an education assistant at the museum. I’ve only worked here for a few months but it feels much, much longer. As an education assistant I do a lot of really cool things. How many other people can say they made soup over a camp fire at work? But my main job is educational tours, mostly with school groups. I love working with kids – they provide unique new insights into the most mundane things and I always get a fresh perspective on something I have done countless of times. Their questions usually make me question things I’ve never thought about before, which in turn leads me to expanding my own knowledge. This is what makes each tour unique, even though, technically, I repeat the same information every time. Read more

April Palisade Newsletter

Featured in this month’s Palisade e-Post:

April Newsletter

– April 2nd: Before Ontario Thought Exchange at Toronto Public Library
– April 6th Moccasin Making Workshop * Cancelled as of April 2nd.
– London Chapter OAS meeting April 10th: research from Cedar Creek
Earthworks
– Featured Artifact from Fugitive Slave Chapel
– Supplies needed for Educational Programming
– Sweat Ceremony April 15th
– Upcoming Canadian Archaeological Association conference in London

Provide us with your email to receive our monthly newsletter: Jennifer@archaeologymuseum.ca

Simcoe’s Boat found in Thames

For Immediate Release April 1, 2014

Simcoe’s Boat Found in Thames River

Local archaeologists have discovered a remnant of an ancient boat found in the Thames River. It is believed to have belonged to Simcoe on his voyage here in the late 1700s. Last summer’s low river levels presented archaeologists with an opportunity to investigate the soil beneath the bed of the Thames River, revealing a historically significant piece of wood. Professor Anaidni Senoj was leading his team’s excavation and recounts his discovery: “When I came across the piece of wood, I knew immediately that I’d hit historical gold. I chuckled to myself, tipped my fedora, and said my favourite Indiana Jones quote from The Last Crusade: ‘This should be in a Museum!'” Read more