Sheguiandah

Sheguiandah is an archaeological site on a quartzite knoll on Manitoulin Island's northwestern shore containing remains of human habitation spanning 9,000 years. The location shows continuous settlement by different groups who worked with the natural quartzite resources available in the area.

Ancient stone tools were discovered in 1951 by Thomas E. Lee, leading to excavations that uncovered artifacts from approximately 9,500 years ago. The findings show different cultural periods including Paleoindian, Archaic, and Middle Woodland phases.

This location served as a gathering place across thousands of years where different groups made and shared tools from locally available quartzite. The continuous use of the same raw material links the traces of many generations together.

The site is accessible via a boardwalk and marked paths that guide you through the grounds safely. Wear appropriate footwear since the terrain is uneven in places, and allow time to read the interpretive signs along the way.

The white quartzite bedrock forming this location is two billion years old and part of the Canadian Shield. This stone formation is precisely what attracted different peoples to settle here and develop their toolmaking traditions.