During an archaeological dig early last summer, scientists discovered the remains of an 18th-century French cemetery in Pointe-aux-Trembles, a neighbourhood in the east end of Montreal. The cemetery was used from 1709 to 1843.
The scientists uncovered about 60 remains along with several artifacts, all near the new Maison du Citoyen at the corner of boulevard Saint-Jean-Baptiste and rue Notre-Dame.
The Maison du Citoyen is housed in a former convent, owned until a few years ago by the Notre-Dame Congregation. Next to the Maison du Citoyen is the Saint-Enfant-Jésus Catholic Church. The parish’s first church was built around 1705, between the monastery and the river. In 1937, the church burned down and was rebuilt in 1939 on rue Notre-Dame.
Archaeologist Rebecca Janson said, “The bones we found were very well preserved, which is highly unusual. Eight of the 68 skeletons were intact. The others were missing some bones in the extremities, but nothing major.”
The section of the cemetery that was uncovered is located on a strip of land that measures two by 15 metres (six by 45 feet).
The bodies of 23 adults, including three elderly people, were found at the the excavation site. So far, the remains of 12 women and four men have been identified. The other remains belong to about 40 children of which about 12 were fetuses.
Robert Larocque, bio-archaeologist responsible for the excavation, said that scientific studies will be carried out to determine the lifestyles of the deceased and what may have caused their death.
Among the objects uncovered were coffins, pins, cufflinks, a rosary, and part of a pipe. These objects and others may eventually be put on display in the Maison du Citoyen.
Photos and more information are available in the Montreal Métro article, Un cimetière des années 1700 retrouvé à Pointe-aux-Trembles.
