In Search of Carhagouha: The Archaeological Identification of Two Early Seventeenth-Century Huron-Wendat Villages

Abstract

Since 2014, the Tay Point Archaeology Project has actively investigated Ahatsistari (BeGx-76) and Chew (BeGx-9), two Huron-Wendat village sites. Archaeological and historical evidence suggest Ahatsistari and Chew are good candidates for the historically referenced villages of Carhagouha and Quieunonascaran respectively, visited by the French ca. 1615–1616 CE and 1623–1624 CE. The geographic locations, inter-village distances, and sizes of Ahatsistari and Chew correspond with historic accounts of Carhagouha and Quieunonascaran. Recovered European-made artifacts securely date Ahatsistari to the first quarter and Chew to the second quarter of the seventeenth century, matching the recorded occupations of Carhagouha and Quieunonascaran. Exceptionally high glass bead densities and unusual European trade items point to intense trade between the French and Huron-Wendat and the presence of notable European visitors at Ahatsistari. Still to be located at Ahatsistari are a triple palisade and small cabin outside the village of Carhagouha that was occupied by Samuel de Champlain, Recollect friar Joseph Le Caron, and French traders.