Archéofact enr.: a not very common company ... and a promising future

-By Francine Deschamps (translation by Roland Deguire)-

Michel Cadieux practises an uncommon trade. He is designer of archaeological and ethnographic pieces. The history and particularly prehistory and experimental archaeology are so omnipresent in is life, that is spouse must sometimes decree a small day off, here and there, where none of it will be mentioned in the house. Otherwise, he is unceasingly at work, making primitive pottery, flintknapping, designing or building models, consulting specialized books, etc. Even when he walks in nature trails, for pleasure, is eyes automatically notice the traces of the past.

One day while camping, he simply tripped on a trade sword stamped with the Jesuits hallmark. In addition, when he takes a walk on a beach of Old Orchard, the campivallensien Michel Cadieux is undoubtedly one of the rare vacationers that notice by chance, an arrowhead in the sand. It must be said that he took part in the excavations and the inventories of various sites, and this for several years. He describes himself as an artisan who works in the field of archaeology, but who possesses a non-academic but “on site” formation, in fact, he is an autodidact and continues unceasingly his readings in the domain.

In 1992, he founded a company named Archéofact enr. , as designer of archaeological and ethnographic pieces, Michel Cadieux touches various fields: lithic (stone tools), ceramics, bone and antlers, native copper, etc. Moreover, he designs and builds models based on archaeological excavations plans and their interpretation. He also offers his services for workshops animation, in particular on flintknapping and stone polishing, on pottery making and primitive cooking (on campfire), on tool creating out of bone or antlers, etc.

The cultural Affairs ministry, the Environment ministry (Parks Canada ), University of Montreal, the archaeological Park of the Pointe du Buisson, the Ostéothèque de Montreal and the Montreal museum of archaeology and history “Pointe à Callières” are among his customers. More recently, he made some objects intended to bring out a newly inaugurated site, that of the Interpretation center Archéo Topo, at Grandes-Bergeronnes, on the Côte Nord.

In addition, for some time now, he cherishes a project: that to prepare an itinerant, educational exhibition, which could “travel” through the province and perhaps even outside of Quebec. He already considers several possible themes; technologies, the experiments on primitive pottery, etc.

While waiting for that project to be realised, Michel always has “bread on the board”. Between his work in experimental archaeology (particularly on pottery), and his various contracts of objects making, intended for interpretation, animation or selling in the museums, he continues to correspond with flintknappers from Ohio and to stay in contact with the Mohawks, the Hurons and the Abenakis of Quebec, because through these exchanges, he discovers legends, methods for flintknapping, etc.

Michel Cadieux benefits of an excellent publicity “by word of mouth”. In fact, he only lets out of his workshop, the pieces with which he is completely satisfied. With the reputation of quality, that it is already renowned for, the future looks promising for Archéofact enr.

(Le Soleil du St-Laurent -24 Juin 1995 Page 7)

*Any archaeological object can be reproduced.