News Release Archive
EDUCATION AND CULTURE---EARLY ACADIAN ABOITEAU FOUND ----------------------------------------------------------------- An Acadian aboiteau and part of an original dyke, dating from the early 18th century, has been discovered in Annapolis County. Located on the Queen Ann's Marsh, the aboiteau is close to the Acadian Melanson settlement and was probably on part of their land. An aboiteau is a hinged valve in the dyke which allows fresh water to run off the saltmarsh and prevents salt water from entering at high tide. The Melanson site, one of the earliest European settlements in Canada, was located on the north shore of the Annapolis River, 6.5 kilometres from the town of Port Royale, now Annapolis Royal. Evidence was found by the Nova Scotia Museum in 1984 and Parks Canada conducted site surveys and excavation from 1984-87. Charles Melanson came to Acadia in 1957 when he was a boy. His father was a Huguenot who had moved to England in 1632. Charles married Marie Dugas, daughter of the armourer at Port Royale, and settled at the site now known as the Melanson Settlement. They had 14 children, nine daughters and five sons, eight of whom established households in the same area. In December 1755, approximately 1660 Acadians were expelled from the area. They were placed aboard vessels bound for Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York and North and South Carolina. If Governor Lawrence's orders were fully executed, all the building in the Melanson settlement would have been destroyed. The archaeological survey and excavation on the ruins of the settlement located 18 separate features, many of which were cellars. The site is the only pre-Expulsion Acadian settlement that has detailed historical documentation and extensive archaeological ruins. Provincial archaeologist David Christianson, who directed the original survey of the Melanson site said, " The Acadians were very skilled at farming the saltmarshes and the discovery of this aboiteau and dyke has the potential to provide first hand information about this early technology." In 1991 an old aboiteau was found in West Pubnico. An archaeological salvage was conducted by the Nova Scotia Museum and the aboiteau is being preserved by the Acadian community. An exact date has not yet been attributed to this find. A site survey of the aboiteau and dyke at Melanson Settlement is currently being conducted by Nova Scotia Museum and the Department of Canadian Heritage, Parks Canada. -30- Contact: Joan Waldron 902-424-7398 or 902-424-6478 trp Apr. 03, 1996 - 10:20 a.m.