The City of Drummondville has entrusted the Drummond Historical Society with more than 780 objects and fragments found by the Grand Council of the Waban-aki Nation during archaeological digs held last fall in the Place d’Armes parking lot, in downtown.
The municipal authorities point out that these excavations have confirmed that the place is one of the founding places of Drummondville.
Nine random surveys were carried out in this sector of downtown and they revealed the presence of an archaeological site declared to the Ministry of Culture and Communications which bears the name of Naskategwaniganek.
The objects and fragments found during the excavations testify mainly to the occupation of the places at the end of the 19th century and throughout the 20th century.
An inkwell dating from the 19th century in fairly good condition is one of the discoveries, possibly related to the presence of barracks in the Place d’Armes. History shows that one of these barracks was used as a school in the past. Among the fragments found are those of a terracotta pipe, fine white terracotta with patterns, nails and bricks.
The Mayor of Drummondville, Stéphanie Lacoste, maintains that these discoveries make it possible to reconnect with the roots of the city and to learn a little more about its history.
The public parking lot at the Place d’Armes is set up on the site of the colony’s former military parade ground, which was permanently occupied at the beginning of the 19th century, when the colony of the river was founded. Saint-François, whose capital was named Drummondville.
The City of Drummondville entrusted the archaeological research work to the Ndakina Office of the Grand Council of the Waban-Aki Nation.
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