07/14/2026
Who Were the First People of Ferryland?
Perhaps, the Beothuk.
Today, archaeologists have begun searching for the evidence that may help answer that question.
For the first time in decades, archaeologists have returned to investigate the Beothuk occupation at Ferryland, the southernmost known Beothuk site in Newfoundland.
Evidence suggests the Beothuk were coming to Ferryland at least a century before the Colony of Avalon was established, when European migratory fishermen first visited these shores.
We know the Beothuk were here. But two questions have remained unanswered: When did they come to Ferryland, and why? Today, the search for those answers begins again.
To truly tell the story of the Colony of Avalon, we must also tell the story of the people who were here long before the colony itself. This renewed investigation offers a rare opportunity to better understand the Beothuk presence at Ferryland and tell the earliest known chapter in the story of the place that would one day become the Colony of Avalon.
Today during their visit, Junior Canadian Rangers from communities across Northern Newfoundland and Labrador witnessed the reopening of this investigation. As archaeologist Steve Mills shared its significance, the group listened with quiet attention, a reminder of why it is so important that the history of the Beothuk continues to be remembered, explored, and shared.
Want to learn more? Join archaeologist Steve Mills this Thursday, July 16, at 1:30 p.m. for âArchaeology of Newfoundlandâs Southern Shore,â the next presentation in our Summer Speaker Series.
Colony of Avalon, Ferryland
Thursday, July 16
1:30 p.m.
