The Mnjikaning Fish Weirs are one of the oldest human developments in Canada. These fishing weirs were built by the first nations people well before recorded history, dating to around 4500 BP during the Archaic period in North America,[1][2] according to carbon dating done on some of the wooden remnants. The weirs were built in the narrows between Lake Couchiching and Lake Simcoe, now known as Atherley Narrows,[1] over which Ontario Highway 12 passes today. They were preserved by the water and layers of protective silt.
Mnjikaning Fish Weirs National Historic Site of Canada
Designated
12 June 1982 (1982-06-12)
The weirs were built as fences using local wood species, including eastern white cedar, sugar maple, and white birch for the stakes.[3] The weirs were used to trap the various fish species swimming through them. The early fishermen wove brush and vegetation among the weirs to make net-like fencing where the fish were guided to be speared, netted or kept for later use, particularly for consumption during the winter.[1]
The weirs – historically called ouentaronk (Huron) and tkaronto (Mohawk) – are believed to have provided the City of Toronto with its name, following a series of copy errors.[4][5] They were in use for about 5,000 years, until about the early 1700s.[6]Samuel de Champlain recorded their existence on September 1, 1615, when he passed the weirs with the Huron en route to the battle with the Iroquois on the south east side of Lake Ontario.
The Mnjikaning Fish Weirs was officially recognized as a National Historic Site of Canada on 12 June 1982.[7] It is managed by the Rama First Nation, who created the Mnjikaning Fish Fence Circle to protect and promote the site.[8]
Bernick, Kathryn (2013). Menotti, Francesco; O'Sullivan, Aidan (eds.). The Oxford Handbook of Wetland Archaeology. Oxford Handbooks in Archaeology. Oxford University Press. ISBN9780199573493.
Munson, Marit K.; Jamieson, Susan M., eds. (2013). Before Ontario: The Archaeology of a Province. McGill-Queen's native and northern series. Vol. 72. McGill-Queen's Press - MQUP. ISBN9780773589193.
"Mnjikaning Fish Weirs National Historic Site of Canada". Parks Canada. Retrieved 8 May 2015.
"Origin of the name of Toronto". City of Toronto. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
. Geonames.nrcan.gc.ca. September 18, 2007. Archived from the original on December 9, 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
External linksedit
Mnjikaning Fish Weirs National Historic Site of Canada at HistoricPlaces.ca (Parks Canada)
January 01, 1970
mnjikaning, fish, weirs, oldest, human, developments, canada, these, fishing, weirs, were, built, first, nations, people, well, before, recorded, history, dating, around, 4500, during, archaic, period, north, america, according, carbon, dating, done, some, woo. The Mnjikaning Fish Weirs are one of the oldest human developments in Canada These fishing weirs were built by the first nations people well before recorded history dating to around 4500 BP during the Archaic period in North America 1 2 according to carbon dating done on some of the wooden remnants The weirs were built in the narrows between Lake Couchiching and Lake Simcoe now known as Atherley Narrows 1 over which Ontario Highway 12 passes today They were preserved by the water and layers of protective silt Mnjikaning Fish WeirsNearest cityOrillia OntarioCoordinates44 36 15 N 79 22 11 W 44 60417 N 79 36972 W 44 60417 79 36972Original useHarvesting fishNational Historic Site of CanadaOfficial nameMnjikaning Fish Weirs National Historic Site of CanadaDesignated12 June 1982 1982 06 12 The weirs were built as fences using local wood species including eastern white cedar sugar maple and white birch for the stakes 3 The weirs were used to trap the various fish species swimming through them The early fishermen wove brush and vegetation among the weirs to make net like fencing where the fish were guided to be speared netted or kept for later use particularly for consumption during the winter 1 The weirs historically called ouentaronk Huron and tkaronto Mohawk are believed to have provided the City of Toronto with its name following a series of copy errors 4 5 They were in use for about 5 000 years until about the early 1700s 6 Samuel de Champlain recorded their existence on September 1 1615 when he passed the weirs with the Huron en route to the battle with the Iroquois on the south east side of Lake Ontario The Mnjikaning Fish Weirs was officially recognized as a National Historic Site of Canada on 12 June 1982 7 It is managed by the Rama First Nation who created the Mnjikaning Fish Fence Circle to protect and promote the site 8 Contents 1 See also 2 Notes 3 References 4 External linksSee also editList of National Historic Sites of Canada in OntarioNotes edit a b c Munson amp Jamieson 2013 p 121 Johnston Richard B Cassavoy Kenneth A 1978 The Fish Weirs at Atherly Narrows Ontario American Antiquity 43 4 697 709 Munson amp Jamieson 2013 p 121 figure 7 6 City of Toronto Natural Resources Canada Bernick 2013 p 76 Parks Canada Chippewas of Rama First Nation Mnjikaning Fish Weirs at current day Atherley Narrows References editBernick Kathryn 2013 Menotti Francesco O Sullivan Aidan eds The Oxford Handbook of Wetland Archaeology Oxford Handbooks in Archaeology Oxford University Press ISBN 9780199573493 Munson Marit K Jamieson Susan M eds 2013 Before Ontario The Archaeology of a Province McGill Queen s native and northern series Vol 72 McGill Queen s Press MQUP ISBN 9780773589193 About us Chippewas of Rama First Nation Retrieved 8 May 2015 Mnjikaning Fish Weirs National Historic Site of Canada Parks Canada Retrieved 8 May 2015 Origin of the name of Toronto City of Toronto Retrieved 23 April 2017 The real story of how Toronto got its name Earth Sciences Geonames nrcan gc ca September 18 2007 Archived from the original on December 9 2011 Retrieved 23 April 2017 External links editMnjikaning Fish Weirs National Historic Site of Canada at HistoricPlaces ca Parks Canada Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mnjikaning Fish Weirs amp oldid 1217807972, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
