Archaeology Travel Guide Canada

With lively cities in the east and vast open landscapes in the west, Canada is one of the World’s top ten tourist destinations. A relatively young archaeological heritage offers visitors over twenty thousand years of cultural history. In the westernmost Yukon region there is evidence of the continent’s earliest people, while at the other end of the country are the remains of the first European settlement in Newfoundland left by the Vikings. From cultural and historical sites of First Nations to historic forts and trading posts of European colonists, there is much for the cultural travellers to see in Canada.

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Reasons to Visit Canada

First Nation Cultures,

Colonial Forts,

Picturesque Historic Cities,

… Mountains and National Parks.

Interesting Things to Know About Canada

Canada is the second biggest country in the world behind Russia. It is larger than the entire EU, and has a population of 38 million, with approximately 4 residents per square km, making it one of the world’s least densely populated countries. Around 90% of the population lives within 160km of the US border. The Canadian-US border is the world’s largest unprotected border at 8,800km long.

Canada is home to 2600 museums, art galleries, and other heritage sites that host 62 million visitors annually. Located here are 20 UNESCO WHS, of which 9 are cultural sites, 10 are natural sites, and 1 is a mixed site. There are 14 additional proposed sites, of which 7 are cultural, 3 are natural, and 4 are mixed.

While there were European forts, settlements, and trading posts in Canada during the 16th and 17th centuries, the land had been inhabited by hundreds of Native American Tribes and Nations since approximately 13,000 BCE. Currently there are over 600 First Nation governments recognized by the Canadian government, with a population of nearly 1 million. This does not include the approximately 600,000 Métis and 65,000 Inuit peoples who also live in Canada.

The Canadian city of Quebec holds multiple titles of interest for history buffs. Quebec, founded in 1608, was the first city established in the region with intent of being a permanent settlement. It is also the only true walled city in North America, one of the last walled cities to be erected worldwide, and the city’s walls were the first UNESCO World Heritage Site in North America.

There are some more recent firsts that one can see in Canada, including the first UFO Landing Pad constructed in the world, located in St. Paul, Alberta and was built in 1967. Alberta is also the home to the World’s Largest Sausage, Pysanka, and Perogy.