Archaeologists have found numerous bullets and gun flints at the site
of the second Quebec settlement.
Musket Bullets, 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
These lead bullets are of varying calibres - evidence that a wide
range of firearms was used at Quebec from the early seventeenth century.
Some of the bullets have been fired. One bears a mark resembling a raised
cross at the centre of a small, flat circle. Small shot castings have also
been found, suggesting that game birds were hunted.
The gun flints, of various colours and sizes, fall into two groups:
those fashioned from a flake and those from a blade.
Gun flints, 17th century
(left) chalcedony blade;
(right) flint blade
Made in 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
Those made from translucent blond chalcedony or clear grey flint are
characteristic of the French manufacturer from Berry.
Gun flints, 17th
century
Flint flakes, made in Holland
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
Those made from flakes of barely translucent reddish-brown or opaque
dark grey flint are attributed to Dutch manufacturers.
After 1633, since the central section of the settlement had become a
"storehouse", at least the lower level of it, 35 five- and six-pound
cannonballs were stored there. The calibre of the balls corresponds to that
of medium-sized culverins. This type of cannon, which is clearly more
powerful than the ones Champlain had in 1629, was installed on the platform
near the river.
