Aurora Site, Wendat Ancestral Village

The Aurora Site is an archaeological location in Ontario that preserves remains of a Wendat settlement from the period before European contact. Excavations have uncovered longhouses, defensive structures, storage pits, and numerous objects that document the daily life of this community.

The settlement was part of the Wendat Confederacy, which included multiple nations across southern Ontario before European contact in the early 1600s. Archaeological evidence shows that this location served as a significant center with organized structures before it was eventually abandoned.

The site shows how the Wendat people organized their community and what they valued. Traces of farming, hunting, and trade suggest their way of life shaped the landscape around them.

The site is located near Aurora and accessible by local roads; taking time to read information boards helps understand the layout of the area. A visit works best in dry weather as the ground can be uneven, and there is no year-round staffing on-site.

The longhouses at this location were remarkably large and could house multiple families under a single roof, revealing tight communal living. This building style was typical for the Wendat and stood out from the scattered dwellings of other peoples in the region.