Amateur archeologists invited to dig up Moore Farm Estate

Adults and children alike are digging through the soil of a cottage that burned down 60 years agoas part of a public archeology program that's operating for the first time in the Moore Farm Estate in Gatineau.

After one day of diggingMonday, people found blacksmith-forged nails, medicine bottles, ceramics and even a rare porcelain bowl, according to National Capital Commission archeologist Ian Badgley.

"It's a1930sspecimen because it doesn't say Japan, it saysNippon," Badgley said, holding the pieces of the brokenbowl together. "This was really a rare piece ofporcelaincoming in from a distant place."

The NCC holds archeological digs on its lands during Quebec's "archeology month." This is the first time this has happened at Moore Farm Estate, located on Alexandre-Tach Boulevard east of theChamplain Bridge.

The century-old estatehad several uses, including an equestrian track, beforeit was donated to the NCC 1973. Badgley said the archeological dig will contribute to reviving the historic memory of the land, which only reopened to the public under a new operator in June.

This week's dig is focused on the foundation of the Broadview Cottage, which burned down in 1956.

Bringing people into archeology

Among the most enthusiasticamateurs was eight-year-old Liam Berezowsky. He called out the objects he found as his father filtered through the soil from their square plot.

It's an enthusiasm that's familiar to Badgley, who has worked as an archeologistfor almost 50 years.

"When you find something that somebody else has handled or somebody else has made, you're actually touching that person. You become involved in their cognition," Badgley said. "Artifacts are solutions to problems, if you will. Be it an axe to cut wood or a pencil to write."

Children under the age of 10 can dig in special plots that have some treasures planted for them to findfinger puppets, old coins and plastic dinosaurs that they can take home. They are also welcome to take part in the historic dig with parental supervisionbut they can't take what they find home.

Instead people who participate in the dig will be invited to help catalogue and interpret their findings in the fall, Badgley said.

"This is the final goal not just to let them dig but to bring them into the whole archeological process, from beginning to end."

The NCC estimates more than 100 people participated in the dig on Monday. About 30 people are signed up for the morning session on Tuesday and another 30 for the afternoon session.TheNCC says people can join in the digeven if they haven't registered.