For 15 years, archeologists have been searching for what remains of a 17th century Acadian parish church in Grand Pré.
And by using modern archeological techniques, including equipment that searches for the "magnetic footprint" of a building, researchers believe they are getting closer to the site of the long-ago destroyed church.
The research is lead by Jonathan Fowler, the president of the Nova Scotia Archeology Society and an associate professor in anthropology at Saint Mary's University.
The Grand Pré National Historic Site memorial church, built in the 1920s, was thought by its builders to sit on the ruins of the original.
Fowler and his team are testing that theory by analysing the soil on the site. In addition to digging up physical artifacts, the team uses electromagnetic sensing equipment (the EM38B), which measures the ability of the soil to conduct a magnetic force.
The device was developed by retired geophysicist Duncan McNeill, who volunteers at the site. Soil, he says, "can, to an extent can be magnetized." Which means a building that burned many years ago can still leave traces.
"Burning soil increases this magnetic property of the soil, and soils which might not have been detectable before being burnt can often be seen after the event," he says.
"Our surveys in the Grand Pré area suggest that, yes, indeed there is evidence of burning and we're picking it up geophysically."
Search for Acadian villages
As well as the church, the team is looking for evidence of Acadian villages that once stood in the area. Fowler says there were approximately 3,000 Acadians who lived in the area before 1755.
"Piece by piece we'll put it together," he says. "And in each new piece we add gives more context and more meaning to the next piece.
"Overall, the intention is to try to map this destroyed community. There were about 30 villages in that area in 1755. Not just in the national historic site, but in the broader landscape. We know where almost none of those are. Very little work has been done."
McNeill, who has been volunteering at the site for 15 years, says the work is "extremely exciting".
"It looks like we're actually finding the real locations of where these buildings are and thus are able to learn more about the occupants by virtue of doing the archeology," he says.
"It's a very, very exciting thing to help elucidate the past. There's much to be learn of that site. And bit by bit we hope to put together a useful picture of how the Acadians lived."
Fowler says there's a science dimension, but also a "heritage dimension and a value to knowing where these things were and being at a place where important historical events took place. It's a powerful thing.
The French regular line falls out of the walls of Quebec to try and push the British back.
The British line quietly awaits the French attack.
Amerindians allied with the French attempt to creep up on the rear of the British line
General action has commenced, with the French once again, unable to smash into the British line. The only hope for the French is for the Amerindians to put pressure on the British who could possibly pull back down the cliff. 
After discovering all of my metal 18th century figures, Ian has gotten back into wanting to do black powder games. This game is a what if game, of Amherst advancing towards Montreal and taking on Fort Chambly
The metal figures are from RAFM Flint and Feather and All the King's Men collections. 
This force is made up of a core group of 2nd Connecucuit Regiment along with some militia and provincial troops. 
I began to collect RAFM figures about 1989 while in high school. I am still painting them up. 
We decided on a small Christmas focusing on the important things, family
a bit of good food
blending Japanese and Canadian traditions as well as our own
Ian decided to set up an ECW themed game whereby a Scottish army invades England, forcing the English player to withdrawl into a castle. He forgot that to storm a castle, one needs to keep your artillery from being taken out by enemy cavalry.
Just a few more boxes to unpack
November 11 Parade, Middle Musquodoboit, Nova Scotia 2015
One of my nights in my patrol car
Daddy stop taking my picture
Hey look Dad!
RA with a Battalion gun
AWI Highlanders
80th Gage's Light Infantry
Compaigne Frances de La Marine
40th Regiment
Marines
Amerindians
77th Highlanders
Characters
Montcalm and Washington
American colonials
French
77th Pipes and Drums
the rest of the box!
