Archaeologists uncover seven historic coffins near North Dakota governor’s residence

Archaeologists working at the North Dakota governor’s residence in Bismarck announced on Oct. 10 that seven coffins containing human remains were uncovered during a security‑upgrade project.

The discovery began on May 19 when contractors digging in the southwest corner of the property near 4th Street and Boulevard Avenue encountered human bones, coffin hardware and fragments of a wooden box. Work stopped immediately, prompting the Office of Management and Budget’s Facilities Management Director Brandon Solberg to order a radar survey and a full archaeological dig that started on Sept. 1.

Preliminary examinations identified the remains of two women, two men, two teenage boys and a toddler, along with an unidentified wooden box. State Historical Society of North Dakota spokesperson Kara Haff said the analysis of the remains and associated artifacts is expected to conclude early next year.

The site was originally Bismarck’s first community cemetery, operating from 1873 to 1877. Although officials in the 1880s believed all graves had been relocated, the new find confirms that several burials were left behind.

Office of Management and Budget officials reported that, in addition to the seven coffins, they have detected nine further anomalies that could indicate up to ten additional graves in the area.

State archaeologists plan to store the remains carefully before reinterring them at a local cemetery, a process they say will respect both the historic significance of the site and the descendants of those buried there.

The discovery highlights the challenges of modern development on historic lands and underscores the importance of thorough archaeological assessment before construction.