Artifact reproduction at Parks Canada

Get a behind the scenes look at artifact reproduction at Parks Canada: the experts, the techniques, and the state-of-the art lab.

Caring for and sharing history

Parks Canada takes care of over 31 million historic objects and archaeological artifacts. This includes tea bowls from The Fortress of Louisbourg in Nova Scotia and shipwrecks from HMS Erebus and HMS Terror in Nunavut.

A team of experts (called conservators) care for these items. Their goal is to help protect, conserve and share examples of Canada’s diverse heritage.

Artifact reproduction specialists are an important part of this team. They make reproductions (copies) of objects. They do this at Parks Canada’s one-of-a-kind artifact reproduction lab in Ottawa, Ontario.

A person wearing a lab coat prepares a silicone mould in a lab
Parks Canada artifact reproduction specialist, Noorin Samji, prepares an artifact to be cast in a silicone mould. This is the historic Washburn ice axe, found at the Kluane National Park and Reserve in Yukon.

The artifact reproduction lab

Our artifact reproduction lab is home to specialized equipment. Here, artifact reproduction specialists can recreate a whole object or a part of it if it’s damaged. They make sure every detail is exactly like the original, including color, size, weight, texture, and even tiny markings.

Some objects are simple to reproduce like a musket ball from Coteau-du-Lac National Historic Site in Quebec. Other objects are complex like a detailed camera lens from Kluane National Park and Reserve in the Yukon.

A person paints on an artifact reproduction in a lab
Samji paints wood grain on an artifact reproduction
Two wooden mallets shown side by side, one of which is a reproduction and the other is the original. The two objects are similar in shape, color, and texture.
The original wooden mallet (left) and a Parks Canada reproduction (right) closely match in shape, size, and surface finish
Two small metal medical scoops shown side by side, one of which is a reproduction and the other is the original. The two objects are similar in shape, color, and texture.
Shown side by side, the original medical scoop (left) and Parks Canada reproduction (right) are nearly indistinguishable

Conserving heritage by reproducing artifacts

Parks Canada’s experts reproduce artifacts so that visitors can access objects that are too sensitive to be handled or travel. An artifact is often reproduced because it is:

  • fragile and cannot be handled without damaging it
  • exceptionally unique
  • spiritually valuable
  • used for research
  • used in an exhibition
  • used for hands-on learning

Artifact reproductions can be seen and handled at national historic sites and national parks across the country. They are used in exhibitions, interpretation activities, and for research purposes.

A reproduction of a piece of timber is exhibited in a glass case
A reproduction of a timber from a ship recovered at Red Bay displayed on exhibit at Red Bay National Historic Site
A reproduction of a piece of timber is exhibited on a wall
Ship timber reproduction on display at Red Bay National Historic Site

Where art meets science

Parks Canada’s team uses cutting edge technology to create reproductions. Some of these technologies include 3D printing, resin molding and electrochemical plating.

Traditional crafts like painting and sculpting help make each reproduction a masterpiece.

Artifact reproduction specialists make sure the original object is conserved for the long-term. Care for the original object is an important part of the reproduction process.

Two people in uniforms stand beside a 3D printer
Parks Canada's artifact reproduction team sometimes uses this 3D printer
A person in uniform removes a model from a 3D printer
Parks Canada artifact reproduction supervisor, Cindy Lee Scott, removes a model from the 3D printer that will be used in the reproduction of an artifact

Parks Canada’s artifact reproduction team has a unique skill set. They can create such realistic reproductions that most people can hardly tell the reproduction and original apart!

It can take anywhere from weeks to months to convincingly reproduce an artifact.

The talent, skills, and dedication of Parks Canada’s artifact reproduction specialists help make highly sensitive artifacts available across the country.

Recreation in action

Watch how the team recreated the historic Washburn Ice Axe. This artifact was excavated from Kluane National Park and Reserve in the Yukon in 2022.

​

​

Activity: try to spot the difference

Can you spot the differences between the original artifact and the Parks Canada reproduction in the examples below?

Two ski pole baskets are shown side by side, one of which is a reproduction and the other is the original. The two objects are similar in shape, color, and texture.
An original ski pole basket (left) recovered from Kluane National Park and Reserve, next to a reproduction produced by Parks Canada's artifact reproduction team (right)
Two large camera lenses are shown side by side, one of which is a reproduction and the other is the original. The two objects are similar in shape, color, and texture.
An original Fairchild F-8 Aerial Lens (right) and its almost identical reproduction (left)
Two axes are shown side by side, one of which is a reproduction and the other is the original. The two objects are similar in shape, color, and texture.
An original axe (top) displayed next to a Parks Canada reproduction (bottom)

Next time you visit a national historic site or a national park, see if you can tell whether the historical objects you see are originals or reproductions!

Related links

Date modified :