Archaeological Excavations at the North West Company's Depot, Grand Portage, Minnesota in 1970-71

Woolworth, Alan

This report describes archaeological remains excavated near the Great Hall, Grand Portage National Monument, Minnesota in 1970-71. Little information was found on the Great Hall aside from a porch in front of it. These scanty remains suggest that the building was razed and sound timbers transported by water to Fort William for reuse. A Kitchen building was found and excavated in the rear of the Great Hall. It measured about 27 by 35 feet. Within it were a stone outlined fireplace and dry well or "Cooler." Porches were found on the north, east, and south perimeters of the building. The ground on which the Kitchen was built was wet in 1785. Drainage was afforded by ditches in the front and rear of the building. The structure was excavated on a 10' grid. Approximately 14,000 artifacts were found in the Kitchen. MOst common were roseheaded nails. Thousands of fragments of creamware and pearlware bowls were recovered. Present also in quantities were broken liquor bottles. There were many personal possessions such as beads, brass tinklers, and kaolin pipe fragments. Cutlery, in the form of steel knives, forks, and pewter spoons was relatively plentiful. A moderate amount of woodworking tools, iron bar stock and building hardware was also found. Simp1isticly, these artifacts can be divided into the four major classifications of building hardware and tools; household goods; personal possessions and trade goods; and artifacts of native origin. Generally, these artifacts depict the demolition of the Kitchen building; some of its furnishings; and the cooking, eating, and drinking which went on within it from about 1785 to 1804.