Dumoulin Mission and Cemetery (32PB 100) is an early-nineteenth century Roman Catholic mission established to serve Metis peoples of the northern Red River valley near the modern-day United States-Canada border. During the last six years archeological and historical research has been undertaken by State Historical Society of North Dakota staff to identify site boundaries and understand intrasite spatial patterning. Access to the property was obtained in 1995. The exact location was identified based on historic descriptions of the location in conjunction with the archeological survey that encountered human remains, artifacts, and building debris consistent with an early mission.  The site is situated on an elevated rise of land. All of the human remains that have been recovered were situated on the high ground within 20 meters of each other.  The recovered human remains were located in close proximity to building debris which indicates the cemetery is probably very near the chapel, a common spatial relationship during the period. The total recommended area to encompass the cemetery area designation based on our current understanding of the site is approximately 3.2 to 3.7 acres.

The presence of human remains from surface contexts has triggered responses from
Metis, Native American, and Euro-American communities, and other interested parties.
Investigations at 32PB100 underscore the value of interdisciplinary research while
illuminating the complexities of past and modern-day cultural interaction.
 
 

The aim of this study was to verify the exact location of the original Dumoulin Mission and later Belcourt Mission as well as to determine the spatial plan of the complex in order to identify the cemetery.  The boundaries of the site had been lost due to cultivation, which had obliterated any surface indications (other than artifacts) of the buildings and interments.  Access to the property was only obtained in 1995.

The report is organized into seven sections.  First, relevant historical information is presented and second it is compared with other missions.  This is followed by a discussion of the results of inspection of aerial photographs and infrared photography. Fourth, the results of the 1995 archeological survey is presented, including the recovery of two fragments of human bone.  Geophysical surveys at the site undertaken in the fall of 1997 (HPC, Inc. 1998) and 1998 (Johnson 1998) are discussed in the fifth section.  The sixth section presents the results of the 1998 excavations and discussions regarding the soils and pedoturbation processes.  The report is concluded by summarizing the results of the interdisciplinary studies to provide the basis for recommendations regarding the size and location of the cemetery.
 

1. Historical Background

    The historical background presented here is limited to a brief discussion related to the setting, structures, and spatial organization of the Dumoulin Mission and later Belcourt Mission complex. This is not intended to be an all-inclusive history of the missions (e.g., daily activities. social organization, political structure, etc.).

    The Roman Catholic mission presence in North Dakota dates from the early-nineteenth century following the establishment of the Selkirk Colony in 1812, and post-dates rival Hudson Bay Company and North West Company fur-trading interests in the district of Assiniboia (Kelsch 1996; Ritterbush 1991; Ross 1957).  Lord Selkirk gave 25 acres to the mission for a church as well as a tract of land four miles long by five miles wide (Shanley 1908:8).  In letters from Father Provencher to Bishop Plessis, Provencher and Severe Dumoulin arrived at the mission that was to he established at Fort Douglas/Saint Boniface in July of 181 8 (Nute 1942).  The loss of crops due to predation by grasshoppers led many of the families to leave Fort Douglas.  Some settled at Pembina where the favorable hunting grounds would prevent starvation over the winter.  The growing community of Pembina requested a priest.  Father Provencher directed Father Dumoulin to Pembina in September 1818 (Shanley 1908:12; Voisine 1985:250).

    The general historical chronology tracing the establishment, operation, and demise of Dumoulin Mission at Pembina that functioned between 1818 and 1823 has been summarized in Nute (1942), Slaughter (1906:209, 213). and Howard (1994:50-51).  The short-lived Dumoulin

mission fell prey to international politics and the on-going boundary dispute. With the establishment of the 49th Parallel as the international boundary in 1823, the Quebec Diocese withdrew north to the Saint Boniface-Fort Garry locality at modern-day Winnipeg. Many of the details surrounding daily operation and activities at the Mission continue to elude us in the surviving historical record (Bakker 1997; Burns 1988).

    Structures are reported in the literature by Nute (1942), Shanley (1908:12), and Slaughter (1906:209) from correspondence of Father Provencher to Bishop Plessis from July 1819:

    At Pembina we have a shop (une boutique) 24x 18, a presbytery 40x27, and we have hauled the timber for a chapel 60x30.

    The available information in Nute (1942:302) suggests that during the initial Dumoulin period to June 1821, 31 burials were listed in the Pembina register.  However, it is not known if interments actually were made in the cemetery.

    Both the Keating (1959) and Stephen Long (Kane et al. 1978) narratives prepared as a result of the Topographic Engineers' international-boundary expedition offer minimal description of the small mission compound administered by Dumoulin at Pembina.  Long wrote on August 6, 1823 (cited in Kane et al. 1978:182);

    Pembina... contains about 60 log houses, including a Catholic church of logs about 70 by 40 feet and house for the residence of a clergyman.  The settlement of the place was commenced about 9 years ago under the auspices of Lord Selkirk.

Shanley (1908:18) report that in 1823 Keating wrote:

    The Catholic clergyman who had been supported at this place was at the same time removed to Fort Douglas, and a large and neat chapel built by the settlers for their accommodation is now fast going to decay.  The settlement consists of about three hundred and fifty souls, residing in sixty log houses or cabins.

    Following an interlude of some 25 years, Roman Catholic mission activity in the area was recommenced in 1848 with the arrival of Father George Antoine Belcourt. Sources dealing with
Father Belcourt's sphere of influence dating from the late  1840s but prior to the transfer to St. Joseph (Walhalla) in 1859 have been summarized by Reardon (1955:103-105) and Aldrich (1927:30-51).

    Upon Belcourt's arrival at the mission in Pembina, he found the buildings beyond repair.  The site was described as being about forty feet above the bed of the river and sufficiently elevated to escape inundation during spring flooding. Father Belcourt erected a chapel 20 feet by 30 feet with the sacristy of a larger church to be built later on.  The presbytery of 20 feet by 60 feet was adjacent to the chapel.  The cemetery is described as being situated in the rear.

    Accounts left by mid-nineteenth century visitors suggest that by the  1860s Pembina was a shell of its former self.  For example, Lewis Henry Morgan (1993:139, 146) briefly described the Pembina environs in correspondence drafted aboard the Steamer Pioneer on August 3.1861.

    Pembina Consists of about a dozen log houses, and is located at the junction of the Pembina and Red Rivers. ...The principal village of the Crees is at St. Joseph or Pembina Mountain, thirty miles west of Pembina.

    Similar statements concerning the Pembina area are found in the 1857 journal accounts of Henry Youle Hind (1971:254-255) and others (Woods 1850).

    Also of interest is Morgan's (1993:145, note 72) mention of the conflagration of the Catholic Cathedral at St. Boniface on December 14,1860. This fire undoubtedly destroyed many important early church records covering mission activity in the Red River country.

    The Dana Wright Papers. housed at the SHSND, indicate the mission site was about 300 yards west and 50 yards south of the railroad crossing and the abandoned farmstead.  Dana Wright, a past Historical Society employee, visited the site in the late 1930s (Dana Wright papers A46 Box 3 Folder 41, dated 1957).  He was accompanied by Fred Rolette, last surviving son of Joseph Rolette.  Wright's notes indicate his legal description (in Section 33) is slightly different than that of Reverend Reardon's but that he was confident this was the mission site.  Wright describes the site as being situated on a slight ridge or elevation, "which is perhaps two feet above the rest of the cultivated field."  He observed wood, ash, broken glass, metal, small bone fragments, and numerous pieces of burned clay.  According to the notes, the landowner plowed up timbers in 1923 that were from a foundation 20 feet by 30 feet which is the size of the chapel Belcourt constructed. Wright states that "he did not remember seeing any sign of the old cemetary  [sic]".

    WPA records (James Parker,  1936-1939) also contain some limited information. The "Old Catholic cemetery" is described as being about 300 yards west of the railroad track and about 300 yards southwest of the farm buildings.  These records indicate that only the remains of Joseph Rolette were removed from the cemetery.  The notations also state the "cemetery was changed about 1874."  Thus, this would suggest the cemetery was not used into the  1890s, as is suggested in other documents.

    Reardon (1955:103) visited the mission site in 1953.  He also noted the site was situated on a topographic rise.  He states that the original cemetery (and/or mission) was cultivated in 1923.  At that time wooden timbers from a building 20 feet by 30 feet were uncovered.  Reardon (1955:103-104) suggests this was the remains of one of the structures erected by Father Dumoulin in 1819.  However. the building size would suggest this structure is from the Belcourt mission period.

     The site location is consistently described as being on a rise (Figure 1). One important

consequence of its location is that it was situated to avoid impacts from the flood-prone Red River of the North. Ross (1957:Appendix D) discussed Red River flooding events for the years 1826 and 1852:

    From 150 yards wide, the usual breadth of the river, it had spread to three miles on each side, and rose for several days at the rate of an inch per hour.

    The extent of 1997 flooding is depicted in Figure 2.  As can be seen the site is elevated enough to avoid much of the flood water.

    Although the historic documents provide relatively consistent information regarding the general location, little is known about the site plan or size. In Father Joseph J. Forbes' reminiscences of Father Goiffon, the following observation is made (A.A. Schmirler Papers 779-4-37):

    In returning from St. Boniface where he was present at the dedication of the new Cathedral in 1908, Father Goiffon stopped at Pembina, arid among other things, visited the "little cemetery ... still existing about a mile-and-a half north-east from the present site of Pembina."

    Also in the Fargo Diocese's 1908 questionnaire survey records, the first church (Dumoulin Mission) is described as being situated near the cemetery.  This same questionnaire describes the cemetery as "one mile north of the present and being two square acres" (A.A. Schmirler Papers). A church is also described as being two acres square but this clearly refers to the church in the town of Pembina when Father Larkey was there in 1882-1884.

    Finally, a volume listing cemeteries in Pembina County (Workman and Christlieb 1990) the Selkirk and Belcourt cemetery is included. This roster lists 167 individuals as being buried in the cemetery between 1849 and 1892.  We believe this list was compiled by the Assumption Church (Pembina).  With the addition of the possible 49 burials during the Dumoulin period (1818-1823), the number of burials postulated for the cemetery was 216.

2. Comparisons with Other Missions

    In an attempt to characterize and contextualize early-nineteenth century mission plans and burial practices, a literature search was instituted. Our preliminary research focused on examples of early-eighteenth to mid-nineteenth century mission-related activity in the Upper Great Lakes and Midwest, as well as earlier and contemporaneous locations to the Rocky Mountain west and in Oregon along the Willamette River.

    Mainfort (1979) discusses post-contact Algonquin burial practices at the Fletcher Cemetery (20BY28) along the Saginaw River near the mouth of Saginaw Bay, Michigan. The

site is provisionally dated to AD 1725-1765.  Wooden box burial was practiced with these interments measuring 1.5-2 ft in width and 5-6.5 ft in length.  Smaller boxes were used for juveniles and infants.

    Contemporaneous Roman Catholic missions were founded by and for Metis and Indian peoples along the Willamette River in Oregon by 1839 (Chapman 1993:12-13; Peterson 1993; Sanders et al. 1983).  A Methodist mission founded by Jacob Lee, and Jesuit ones such as du Wallamette and later St. Francis Xavier on French Prairie along with the Rocky Mountain missions provide a comparative frame of reference to the Dumoulin and Belcourt Mission.  The physical setting of the Willamette floodplain referred to as "French Prairie" shares some broad similarities to the Red River country of Assiniboia. However, there are some striking differences, most notably the paucity of usable timber. Recently. Peterson (1993:93, 122-123) has illustrated pencil-and-ink drawings prepared by Nicolas Point and Pierre Jean DeSmet between 1840 and 1860 of some of the Rocky Mountain missions.   The 1841 Point drawing of St. Mary's Mission among the Flathead depicts a small cemetery adjacent to the chapel.

    The Oregon State University French Prairie projects combined historical documentation with archeological investigation. The cemetery area at Willamette (Sanders et al. 1983:25) is described as "enclosed with a rail fence. was situated near to the main mission houses."

    In summary, early missions in the Northwest and Upper Great Lakes regions often contain a core element of one or more structures adjacent to a small burial plot. This practice of focal interment continued in many areas. Early rural churches after 1880 in North Dakota commonly display this organizational layout.  The concept of a large cemetery-mortuary plot divorced from an adjoining church complex was not in  place until the twentieth century.

3. Aerial Photographs and Infrared Photography

    Inspection of aerial photographs and use of infrared photography were essential components of the study. The l941 SCS aerial shows what appears to be a cart trail leading northward to a group of anomolies which we interpret to be the remains of the Dumoulin- Belcourt mission complex (Figure 3). A close-up of the area depicts these surface disturbances in greater detail. Unfortunately, no definite indication of a cemetery plot is visible.

    Aerial photographs taken in 1990 depict Interstate 29 west of the proposed site margin. The rise in the field southwest of the abandoned farmstead is visible. This rise is situated in the general area described in the previously mentioned WPA records describing the location of the cemetery and mission.

    Infrared photographs were taken in 1994 (Figure 4). These photographs did not provide any conclusive evidence of the location of the mission or cemetery. This finding is not uncommon in areas that have been cultivated for an extended period.

4. 1995 Archeological Investigation of the Dumoulin and Belcourt Missions at Pembina

    In 1995, the Pembina County States Attorney (Laurie Fontaine) arranged for access to the property.  Archeology has the potential to answer questions that have remained silent or become clouded in the historic record.  Identification of the surface expression was undertaken first Pedestrian survey was completed of a 60 acre tract in Section 33 encompassing the hypothesized location of the mission complex based on results of historical research. Closely-spaced parallel transects traversed the tract with observed surface artifacts and other remains being pin-flagged (Figure 5).

    A dense scatter of 19th century cultural debris was recorded on a slightly elevated rise on
a terrace of the Red River. The scatter covers an area approximately 100 m by 100 m. The
concentration of historic cultural material is likely the remains of the earlier Dumoulin (1818-
1823) Mission, church, and associated cemetery and the later Belcourt (1848-1859) Mission
complex.

    Artifacts observed on the surface include two large faceted glass trade beads, several other glass beads, a number of kaolin pipestem fragments, and a burned British gunflint possibly made of Dover flint, Metal, glass, and large mammal bone fragments were more abundant. Relatively thick flat pane glass and green, purple, and clear bottle fragments were noted. Square nails were observed. Concentrations of daub-burned earth and small pieces of decaying wood were noted in the core area of the site. This suite of artifact classes conforms to what has been reported from regional sites dating from the early to mid-nineteenth century.

    During this surface survey, two fragments of human bone were identified; a phalange and a femur fragment (Williams 1995).  The human remains were found in close proximity to each other and were located in the central area of the 1995 SHSND proposed cemetery area (Figure 6).  The bone was bleached, indicating prior exposure of several months to one or more years.  If these human remains are associated with the historic cemetery, burials at various depths should be expected.

    The integrity of surface and near-surface deposits have been impacted by prior tillage since the 1920s. The surface distribution of artifacts suggests that horizontal disturbance by plowing is not great, as daub concentrations likely mark the locations of former structures at the site, which included a log chapel residence, store, and a small school.  Based on historic documents, a cemetery plot was associated with the mission.  Although the human bone recovered cannot positively be linked to the early cemetery, human burials are present in the location where a historic scatter dating to the first half of the nineteenth century exists,

5. Geophysica1 Surveys at 32PB100

    The use of geophysical techniques were used to clarify intrasite spatial patterning at a finer-grained scale.  Throughout the Upper Midwest during the last several years, geophysical techniques have been applied with varying success to identify cemetery locations dating from prehistoric to historic times [e.g., Crowell (l997:95-99).

    In September of 1997 a ground penetrating radar (GPR) survey was conducted (HPC, Inc.
1998). That report should be consulted regarding the methods and specific results of that survey
The report indicates the survey encompassed about 3.2 acres and suggests there may be "480 to
600 or more potential gravesites" (HP C, Inc. 1998.5, l 1).

    Considering the surprisingly large number of potential gravesites identified as compared to what the historic record suggested, ground truthing of some of the identified anomalies was undertaken and results are described in the following section.  Structural remains identified by daub concentrations were found during the archeological survey as well as square nails. These remains were substantially south of. where the proposed structures were situated based on the CPR survey. Compare Figure 8 of this report and Figure 5 of the HPC, Inc. Report, noting that Figure 8 is in meters and Figure 5 is in feet),

    In August of 1998, IMA Consulting (Johnson 1998) performed a magnetometer and resistance survey of a 20 x 20 m block. The location of the block is depicted in Figure 6. Details of the results can be found in Johnson (1998) A possible structure was identified in the southwest corner of the block that is very close to where the daub concentration is visible on the ground surface.  Possible grave features were located north and east of the possible structure (Johnson 1998:5). Results of the magnetic survey correspond with the archeological findings regarding the probable location of structures and the location of the cemetery plot. Similarly. historical accounts support inferences drawn from archeological and geophysical data

6. 1998 Archeological Investigations at 32PB100

    Initial field investigations at 32PB100 during May 1998 focused on reconnaissance of the ca.2.5 acre tract.  Closely spaced pedestrian transects were walked across the previously identified site area. A contour map of 32P13100 using transit and stadia was prepared (Figure 6). The horizontal extent and boundaries of burned-earth daub debris thought to represent structural material associated with the Mission buildings were flagged with surveyors pins and subsequently mapped (sec Figure 6). Other surface artifacts were noted as found.

    Human remains also were observed in surface contexts in the same general area as those reported in 1995. These included two teeth and a rib fragment These 1998 remains were reburied in place following consultation with Francis Cree and Alta Bruce (North Dakota Internal Reinterment Committee).

    Following consultation with Raymond Butler of high Plains Consortium (HPC), four excavation units (XUs) were selected (Figure 6). These units served to "ground truth" anomalies identified at four localities by the HPC ground-penetrating radar (GPR) survey (HPC 1998:7, 10).  The XUs were located using compass and tape measurements taken from the HPC datum stake and subsequently verified with the HPC base-map grid system.

    The four XUs were of varying size and dimensions. These are presented in Table 1 with details regarding size, depth, and locations.

Table 1. Summary of 1998 Excavation Unit Information, 32PB100.

    Hand excavations without screening involved removal of the surface A horizon of varying thickness and with work continuing downward until underlying light-colored C horizon sediments were exposed. The purpose of the exploratory excavations was to remove overburden and document the presence of subsurface features such as grave pits or casket interments that penetrated the subsoil in these locations. Unscreened backdoor was stockpiled on plastic sheeting adjacent to the excavations. Units were backfired following profiling and photography.

    One-inch soil cores were placed in the bottom of all units to explore underlying sediments. These cores penetrated an additional 90 cm (35.4 in) below the vertical extent of hand excavation.

    Soil profiles were drawn and described; plan maps of the excavation floors also were prepared.  Finally, photographs were taken of the units following completion of excavation and profiling.
 

Soils

    Soils in the 32PBl00 project area arc mapped as Bearden silty clay loam along the slightly elevated northwest-southeast trending finger ridge and Hegne-Fargo silty clay on less elevated terrain to the east near the Red River channel (Thompson and Hetzler 1977: Map Sheet 23, inset). These soils have a high water table within 3-5 feet of the surface during periods of extensive moisture.

    Both series are described as nearly level to gently sloping soils formed on glacial Lake Agassiz plain (Mollard 1983; Teller and Clayton 1983; Thompson and Hetzler 1977:2-4) Combined, these two soil associations constitute about 36% of Pembina County Glacial lake plain sediments typically are deposited in environments where slope is restricted to a few feet per mile and the river gradient is a few inches per mile as in eastern Pembina County at 32PB100 locale (Bluemle 1997:17)

    The characteristic Bearden series profile as described by Thompson and Hetzler (1977:12-15) comprises:

Horizon         Depth (in, cm)             Description
AP                   0-7,  0-18                Black silty clay loam
AC                  7-18, 18-45             Very dark-gray silty clay loam
Cl                   l8-28,  45-70            Light olive-brown silty clay loam
C2                 28-36, 70-90            Olive-brown silty clay loam
C3                 36-46, 90-115          Light olive-brown silty clay loam
C4                 46-60, 115-150        Light olive-brown silty clay barn
 

    Similarly, the characteristic Hegne-Fargo series (Thompson and Het7lcr 1977:30-32) profile comprises:

Horizon         Depth (in, cm)                 Description
AP                 0-7,   0-18                 Black silty clay
A12               7-14,  18-35              Very dark-gray silty clay
Cl                  14-28, 35-70             Olive-gray silty clay
C2                 28-48, 70-120           Olive silty clay
C3                 48-60, 120-150         Olive silty clay

    The two soil series each exhibit horizonation where a surface A horizon of variable depth is underlain by either three or four C horizons that extend to 60 inches (5 feet) below surface. A minor difference is the extent to which the A horizon has developed and thickened in the Hegne--Fargo series as compared to the Bearden series. Some variability from these generalized profiles can be expected given differences in local topography, climate, organisms parent material, and time (Jenny 1994:15)

Natural and Cultural Stratigraphy

    The soil profiles for the four text units (XUs A-D) at 32P13100 described next are very similar to those discussed for characteristic Bearden and Hegne-Fargo series profiles. Pedologic and geomorphic information from local contexts provide a comparative frame of reference for evaluating natural and cultural stratigraphy at 32PB100. Unlike downstream locations near

    Winnipeg as discussed by Kroker (1997:14) where overbank flood deposited materials "can provide a layer of sediment over top of a horizon, thereby producing a sealed time capsule," no strong indications of this geomorphic/hydrologic process are evident in the excavations undertaken at 32PB100. Finally, no developed buried A horizons (paleosols) have been identified in the project area based on limited hand excavations, soil coring, and inspection of the pertinent geological-pedological literature.
 

Pedoturbation Processes

    In contrast to horizonation, homogenization processes in soil development act as mixing agents Wood and Johnson (l978:317) define pedoturbation as "the biological, chemical, or physical churning, mixing, and cycling of soil materials." Johnson and Watson-Stegner (1990:Table 1) identify ten common pedoturbation processes. These are summarized in Table 2

Table 2. Pedoturbative Processes (Adapted from Johnson and Watson-Stegner 1990).

    Given the geomorphic and pedogenic character of the 32PB 100 setting and sediments several of these processes (especially argilliturbation, cryoturbation, and faunalturbation) have impacted the site, as evinced in the following soil profile descriptions for XUs A-D). Similar patterns of vertical soil cracking in clayey sediments attributed to thermal contraction-frost action with displacement of A horizon sediments downward have been reported at thc Kelso Ridge Site (32TR402) along the Red River in Traill County (Reid and Olson 1994: Appendix C: Figures 56-58) and at 32BA109 along the Sheyenne River in Barnes County, North Dakota (Stine et al. 1998: Vol.2:304).

 XUA

    XUA is a 1 X 3 m unit located 165-175 feet south and 18-20 feet west the datum along the P22A transect where a cluster of Class 3, 4, and 5 anomalies had been identified (HPC map printout; Appendix A). The unit trench was excavated to 38 cm below surface. As indicated in Figures 9 and 10, the profile consists of a thickened surface black clay loam A horizon underlain by an intermediate dark-gray clay loam AC horizon and an underlying olive-brown clay loam C horizon. The modern plowzone does not penetrate the full vertical extent of the A horizon. Also the AC-C horizon boundary is not distinct due to heavy disturbance by burrowing animals (faunalturbation).

    There is potential for intact cultural deposits beneath the plowzone within the extant A horizon in this part of 32PBlOO.  Soil probes placed in the floor of XUA that extended another 90 cm failed to indicate more deeply buried soil horizons or cultural deposits.
 

XUB

    XUB is a 1 X 3 m unit located 330 feet south and 13 feet east of the datum along the P3 transect where a cluster of Class 3 anomalies had been identified (HPC map printout; Appendix
A). Figures 11 and 12 illustrate the soil profile and floor of XUB that was excavated to 28 cm below surface.  The profile comprises a thin black clay loam A horizon underlain by an indistinct dark-gray clay loam AC horizon and a distinct light olive-brown clay loam C horizon. Pedoturbation was apparent in the floor where animal burrowing and soil cracking had vertically displaced darker A horizon sediments into the subsoil. These linear vertical cracks have resulted from either argilliturbation (swell-shrink of clayey sediments) or cryoturbation (freeze-thaw action in clayey sediments); and possibly some combination of the two processes. Two one-inch soil cores placed in the floor of  XUB penetrated an additional 90 cm revealing olive-brown and yellow-brown clay loam with interspersed, horizontal banding of gray clays but no evidence of post-depositionary cultural disturbance.

XUC

     XUC is a 1 X 2 m unit located 150 feet east and 10 south of the datum along the P37 transect where Class 3 and 4 anomalies had been identified (HPC map printout; Appendix A) Excavation penetrated to 28 cm below surface. A prominent black clay loam A horizon was underlain by a patchy and intermittent dark-gray loam zone (AC horizon) and a light olive-brown clay loam C horizon (Figures 13 and 14). Heavy disturbance by burrowing animals was evident in the floor and walls of XUC at the AC-C horizon boundary.  Soil cores placed in the floor of XUC failed to reveal evidence of post-depositionary disturbances of a cultural origin such as grave pits.

XUD

    XUD is a 2 X 2 m unit located 112-115 feet north of the datum along the N-S baseline where Class 3, 4, and 5 anomalies had been identified (HPC map printout; Appendix A) The deepest excavation occurred here and one that penetrated to 59 cm below surface. A thickened black clay loam A horizon is underlain by a grayish-brown clay loam AC horizon and a light olive-brown clay loam C horizon. Extensive animal burrowing was observed from the base of the surface A horizon extending downward into the underlying strata as evident in the mottled and rodent disturbed floor and walls of XUD (Figures 15 and 16). As with XUA, the modern plowzone does not penetrate the full vertical extent of the A horizon suggesting the potential for intact subsurface cultural deposits in the uppermost horizon in this location, However, no evidence for cultural post-depositionary events was found. One-inch soil cores placed in the floor of the unit failed to indicate post-depositionary disturbances of cultural origin.

     The four excavation units (XUs A-D) have documented a stratigraphic sequence typified by A-AC-C soil horizonation characteristic of Bearden and Hegne-Fargo soils. Extensive pedoturbation as reflected by animal borrowing and soil cracking has acted as a mixing agent for the 32PB 100 sediments.  No evidence of subsurface cultural features (graves, burial pits) related to cemetery use were encountered either in the hand excavations and soil coring or in the soil profiling work at the four locations.

    A general stratigraphic pattern reflecting the interplay of deposition and erosion where the two processes are in approximate equilibrium characterize the recent 32PB100 sedimentary history. Overbank deposition of sediments have acted to counter extensive erosion by wind and water of the Red River terrace landform.

7. Summary and Recommendations

    We now summarize the points that are known about the Site. First the exact location was identified based on historic descriptions of the location in conjunction with the archeological survey that encountered human remains, artifacts, and building debris consistent with an early mission. The site is situated on an elevated rise of land which was especially important for building sites in the Red River valley due to the high frequency of flooding. All of the human remains that have been recovered were situated on the high ground within 20 meters of each other. The recovered human remains were located in close proximity to building debris which indicates the cemetery is probably very near the chapel, a common .spatial relationship during the period. Reportedly, the presbytery was adjacent to the chapel, and Reardon (1955) describes the cemetery as being situated in the rear. The surface evidence (location of daub and human remains; see Figure 6) based on the archeological survey is consistent with this interpretation. Since human remains have been recovered from surface contexts, burials likely occur at various depths, some being relatively shallow.

    Four locations where High Plains Consortium (HPC) identified concentrations of anomalies and that were suggested to be possible grave locations were investigated in  1998. Excavations in these four areas continued into and penetrated the underlying subsoil where subsurface features such as grave pits would be visible.  In the four areas investigated the only disturbances noted were due to animal burrowing and cracking from freeze/thaw action.  No evidence of pit or grave features were observed in those locations.  In addition, building debris (daub and iron nails) observed on the ground surface is in a different location than that indicated by the ground penetrating radar survey. The results of the survey are not clearly understood. Some of the anomalies identified as graves probably are that, but in our opinion it is highly unlikely that all 480-600 represent interments. The results of the magnetic survey (Johnson 1998) are more consistent with what was observed on the ground surface in terms of artifact distributions in 1995 and 1998 and what is expected based on review of the extant historic records.

     Studies involving early historic events frequently reveal a paucity of primary data and require judgement and discrimination in evaluating the sometimes contradictory information. For example, Swan (letter from Ruth Swan to Fern Swenson, June 27, 1996) reports "an historical document from F.X. Gosselin, a Metis elder, who told the priest in the 1930s that the mission site was five acres and the cemetery was TEN ACRES."  This statement is not consistent with other historic documents discussed herein or with the archeological evidence encountered at the site.

    In 1995, we proposed an area 100 x 100 meters (ca. 2.5 acres) for the cemetery.  This acreage figure was based on the historical and archeological investigations.  In addition, we used the figure of 216 burials (adult sized although many are children and infants) to derive the estimate for an adequate area to encompass that many interments (Figure 17).  Building debris does extend outside this identified area to the southeast (see Figure 6).  We recommend that this additional area be included in the parcel to be designated for the cemetery. Thus, we suggest that the southeast boundary be expanded and extended 30 to 50 meters from the 1995 designation. This areal expansion should follow the elevated ground extending to the southeast. The total recommended area to encompass the cemetery area designation based on our current understanding of the site would thus be approximately 3.2 to 3.7 acres.
 

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