Artisans and labourers built, demolished and repaired the buildings of the settlement. This is well documented by the debris of construction materials, whose volume accounts for almost forty percent of the archaeological collection.

Bevelled tile, paving tile and bricks, 17th century Found at the site of the second Quebec settlement Ministère de la Culture et des Communications du Québec, Archaeological Collection Photo: Steven Darby, Canadian Museum of Civilization

. . . To carry out this plan I thought that . . . it would be well to collect the materials so as to be able to start in the spring. I therefore had a quantity of lime made, trees cut down, stone brought in, and materials generally prepared for mason work, carpentry, and heating. This was difficult of accomplishment owing to the men being taken off for other purposes . . . Champlain, The Voyages, 1632

Hatchet, 17th century Found at the site of the second Quebec settlement Ministère de la Culture et des Communications du Québec, Archaeological Collection Photo: Steven Darby, Canadian Museum of Civilization

During the course of several archaeological digs that took place between 1975 and 1988, archaeologists from the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications du Québec unearthed remains of the second settlement, as well as a number of materials used in its construction.

Axes, a billhook, a wedge, a spade and a shipbuilder’s caulking iron give an indication of what the workers used to do their work.

Spade, nails and a shipbuilder’s caulking iron, 17th century Found at the site of the second Quebec settlement Ministère de la Culture et des Communications du Québec, Archaeological Collection Photo: Steven Darby, Canadian Museum of Civilization

Flasks, which workers took with them to quench their thirst during the day, can also be linked to these outdoor activities.

Flask, 17th century Stoneware Normandy, France Found at the site of the second Quebec settlement Ministère de la Culture et des Communications du Québec, Archaeological Collection Photo: Steven Darby, Canadian Museum of Civilization