The remains were uncovered during security construction on land once used as Bismarck’s first community cemetery.
BISMARCK, N.D. — Archaeologists have removed seven coffins containing human remains and an unidentified wooden box from near the North Dakota governor’s residence, months after construction crews unexpectedly encountered remains on land that once served as Bismarck’s first community cemetery.
The excavation followed a discovery made May 19 during work on security improvements around the governor’s residence. Contractors working near the southwest corner of the property found human remains, coffin hardware and fragments, prompting officials to halt construction in the affected area. The State Historical Society of North Dakota was brought in, and investigators later used ground-penetrating radar to search for possible additional graves.
Archaeological fieldwork began Sept. 1, and crews ultimately investigated more than 80 areas of interest before finishing the field work Sept. 14, according to state officials. The investigation produced seven coffins containing human remains as well as another wooden box whose contents and purpose have not been publicly identified. Officials have not announced the identities of the people whose remains were recovered.
Brandon Solberg, facilities management director for the North Dakota Office of Management and Budget, said archaeologists will now review and catalog the remains and other material recovered from the site. That work is expected to continue into early 2027. Researchers will try to determine basic information about the people buried there, including age ranges and potentially signs of disease. Solberg said DNA testing is not planned as part of the analysis.
The discovery is tied to a much older chapter in Bismarck’s history. State officials said the area was part of the city’s first community cemetery, which operated from 1873 to 1877. Many graves were moved to St. Mary’s Cemetery and Fairview Cemetery during the 1880s, but later discoveries showed that some burials apparently remained behind.
This is not the first time human remains have been encountered in that part of the Capitol grounds. State records cited by officials show burials were found during construction of a trolley line near the southwest corner of the property in 1903. More remains were encountered during construction of the previous governor’s residence in 1959. Those discoveries indicated that the original effort to relocate graves from the former cemetery had not removed every burial.
The latest discovery occurred during a security project approved by North Dakota lawmakers. The Legislature authorized $2.35 million for upgrades that include a new fence and a driveway extension at the governor’s residence. Construction continued in areas not affected by the burial sites while archaeologists and state officials determined how to handle the remains. As of Sept. 1, the archaeological work was estimated to add about $155,000 to state costs, though officials had not released a final figure after the excavation was completed.
Gov. Kelly Armstrong’s office said earlier in the investigation that the governor wanted the remains treated with appropriate care and respect. The Office of Management and Budget has contracted with a local funeral home to assist with the remains, while Crisis Care Chaplaincy has volunteered to help with the relocation process.
The recovered remains are expected to be reburied at a local cemetery in spring 2027 after the archaeological review is complete. Officials have not said whether researchers expect to identify any of the individuals by name. For now, the seven coffins and other recovered material are being cataloged as investigators work to learn more about the people who were buried on the property more than a century ago.
Author note: Last updated October 7, 2026.