Southwold Earthworks was designated a national historic site of Canada in 1923. It is designated because it is a rare and well-preserved example of an Aboriginal fortified village completely surrounded by earthworks, built by the Attiwandaron (Neutral Iroquois) between about A.D. 1450 and 1550.

Picture Caption Dog (Saluki) at Southwold Earthworks, 1986. This ancient site, dating back prior to 1500 is the only example of a double palisaded village in southern Ontario. The dog is sitting on one of the mounds in front of the largest American beech tree on the site.