10.10.2026 18:41
In a $2.35 million construction project launched to increase security at the governor's residence in the U.S. state of North Dakota, 7 coffins containing human remains were unearthed from beneath the ground. The remains, including those of a small child, were determined to belong to an old cemetery used between 1873 and 1877. While more than 80 locations in the area were being examined, it emerged that some burials were left behind during grave relocation operations carried out in the 1880s.
The $2.35 million project launched to increase security at the governor's mansion in Bismarck, the capital of the U.S. state of North Dakota, became the scene of an unexpected archaeological discovery. After historic coffins were encountered in the area where the ground was excavated for the security wall construction and landscaping, expert teams launched an investigation in the area.
BONES BELONGING TO CHILDREN WERE ALSO FOUND Human remains belonging to people from different age groups were identified inside the 7 coffins removed from under the ground. In the initial examinations, the bones were determined to belong to two women, two men, two young people and a small child.
Experts investigating the history of the area where the remains were found determined that the land where the governor's mansion is currently located was used as Bismarck's first official cemetery. It was determined that the cemetery opened in 1873 and was used until 1877.
North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong NEWSPAPER REPORTS FROM YEARS AGO WERE FOUND It was revealed that the grave relocation operations carried out in the area in the 1880s did not cover all the burials. According to the records of the period, most of the interments in the old cemetery had been transferred to other areas.
Kara Haff, spokesperson for the North Dakota State Historical Society, stated that there were reports in local newspapers regarding the moving of the graves. Haff reported that the statement “We moved all the graves except for two people” was used in news published at that time.
However, the discovery of 7 coffins in the recent excavations showed that the number of burials left behind on the land may be higher than previously thought.
MORE THAN 80 SITES WERE TAKEN UNDER EXAMINATION In the field studies completed in the middle of last month, experts identified more than 80 sites on the land that should be evaluated archaeologically. The analysis of the collected findings is planned to be completed in the first months of next year.
The human remains found are expected to be reburied in a cemetery in Bismarck after a ceremony to be held in the spring.
It was reported that the cost of the archaeological rescue activities that emerged during the security work at the governor's mansion reached approximately $155,000.