While there has been lots of work done on the Lolo National Forest over the past three years of partnership, there were still areas that needed survey and revisits. In particular, we received a tip regarding the presence of more hearths similar to those found at China Gulch that relate to Chinese construction. Only one mile to the south of China Gulch and Louiseville we discovered a series of six additional Chinese hearths at the area supposed to be Forest City, the next largest town in Cedar Creek. These hearths are in a range of conditions, but most appear to have been looted. However, they still provide a wonderful opportunity to compare and contrast archaeological materials from the two sites in Cedar Creek, and the one hearth found on the Lewis & Clark National Forest at Yogo Town. There is potential for even more Chinese sites in the Cedar Creek drainage as many areas have yet to be surveyed.

Chinese rock hearth at the site of Forest City in Cedar Creek
(Download a basic site map)

Another Chinese rock hearth found at Forest City in Cedar Creek.

As is detailed in the pages dedicated to Cedar Creek, the Cedar-Quartz Mining District was largely abandoned by Euroamerican miners in 1874 when gold was found at Ninemile, near Missoula. Chinese also rushed to the new Ninemile district at the same time, and there is some evidence of their occupation of homes near the town of Martina and Montreal. In particular, the townsite of Montreal (also called "Old Town") archaeologists discovered Chinese ceramics and opium cans in the piles of dirt excavated by equipment building a fire line during a recent wildfire. Our revisit to the site of Montreal did not uncover any additional Chinese artifacts, but the area has revegetated over the past few years.