Ottawa’s Violent Island Of The Dead

03/24/2024

One of Ottawa’s most talented people, artist and writer Andrew King, has discovered an island nearby in the Ottawa River that contains an ancient burial ground and a mysterious story:

Situated on the Ottawa River approximately 18 kilometres northwest of downtown Ottawa lies a small island with such a haunting past it truly should be called, the Island Of The Dead.

What lies beneath the sands of this small, one acre island is a solemn reminder of our area’s turbulent ancient past, and reminds us of those that were here long before us. Dozens of buried skeletons, weapons and a mysterious inscribed stone tell a story of violence, ritual and what I believe is a place of extreme archeological importance.

This seemingly innocuous sand island one kilometre offshore is often visited, but rarely those that step foot upon its shore fully comprehend what lurks below.

To read King’s fascinating article, go to Ottawa Rewind by clicking here.

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