This site plan indicates the number of longhouses and the area covered by this large village which was occupied by the Huron Indians at approximately 1500 A.D. The Draper village was named after the family who owned the farm on which the site is located. Excavations over the period 1975 to September 1978 revealed that the village covered between twelve and thirteen acres and, at the time of abandonment, was occupied by approximately 2,000 to 2,500 people.
The site was threatened by the proposed construction of the New Toronto International Airport. The Archaeological Survey of Canada, National Museum of Man organized investigation of the site prior to the commencement of construction. Since only a limited amount of time was available, new techniques of excavation were developed which involved the use of power equipment such as bulldozers and road graders.
