1-Battle of the Restigouche National Historic Site of Canada
40 Boulevard Perron Ouest
Pointe-à-la-Croix, Quebec
Information: 418-788-5676 or 1-888-773-8888
www.pc.gc.ca/ristigouche
Presentation: The Battle of the Restigouche NHS of Canada is administered by Parks Canada, which sees to its protection and presentation. The site commemorates the last naval combat in North America between France and England for the possession of New France. The exhibit focuses on the Machault, a French frigate sunk during the battle, and displays a large number of artifacts raised from the river during underwater excavations between 1969 and 1972.
Activity 1: Talk “The archaeological excavation of the wreck of the Machault, 40 years on,” with Charles Dagneau, maritime archaeologist
Date: Sunday, August 16, 2 p.m.
Activity length: 45 minutes
Admission fee: Included in the general admission fee
Description: The 40th anniversary of the start of underwater research at Restigouche (1969) will be highlighted by the presence of Charles Dagneau, a maritime archaeologist with the Underwater Research Service of Parks Canada. Mr. Dagneau is taking part in the preparation of a comprehensive report on underwater research undertaken in Restigouche between 1969 and 1972. Mr. Dagneau’s Ph.D. thesis was based in part on the material culture found at Restigouche and he is thus well placed to bring the public up to date on this fascinating theme.
Target clientele: Adults
Activity 2: Underwater archaeology “simulator”
Dates: Daily throughout August
Activity length: 15 minutes
Admission fee: Included in the general admission fee
Description: This activity is intended for children. The Underwater archaeology simulator is a wooden box filled with sand concealing reproductions of artifacts found in the Restigouche River. Under the direction of an interpretive guide, children don diving goggles that are slightly misted to simulate actual underwater visibility and search for objects representing the many archaeological finds. Through this activity they learn about the challenges of underwater digs at Restigouche and the diversity of the artifacts found there.
Target clientele: Families
Activity 3: Talk “Underwater archaeology in the Restigouche River”
Date: sera précisé d’ici la fin avril pour le site Internet
Activity length: 45 minutes
Admission fee: Included in the general admission fee
Description: A talk and slideshow on the Restigouche underwater archaeology project will be given by one of the interpretive guides at the site itself, and other presentations will be held off-site, but in the surrounding area, by different organizations as part of a series of summer presentations in August.
Target clientele: Adults
Activity 4: Archaeo-Photos
Dates: Daily throughout August
Activity length: 15 minutes
Admission fee: Included in the general admission fee
Description: To mark the 40th anniversary of the start of underwater research at Restigouche (1969), a photo exhibit will be presented during the month of August. Following a request made through the local media, people sent in unpublished photos taken from the riverbanks between 1969 and 1972. The most significant photos were selected for the exhibit.
Target clientele: General
Activity 5: Talks “Sharing our archaeological treasures with the Pabos Historical and Archeological Interpretation Centre”
Dates: Sunday, August 2 and 23, heure à déterminer d’ici fin avril
Activity length: 45 minutes each talk
Admission fee: Included in the general admission fee
Description: Two talks will be presented in collaboration with the Pabos Historical and Archeological Interpretation Centre. The first one, on August 2, dealing with archaeological digs at the Pabos site and what they tell us about settlement in the Gaspé, will be presented at the Battle of the Restigouche National Historic Site of Canada. The August 23 talk, on underwater archaeology in the Restigouche River, will be presented at the Pabos’ Historical and Archeological Interpretation Centre.
Target clientele: Adults