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Fort St. Joseph (FSJ), as this mission/garrison/trading-post complex came to be called, was one of the most important French outposts in the Great Lakes region. The fort was located on the St. Joseph River in the area that is now the city of Niles in southwest Michigan. This fort was near an important canoe portage along the Great Sauk Trail from Detroit to Chicago. This region was home to thousands of Native Miamis, Potawatomis, and Sauks. Jesuits first began a mission here around the 1680s, and the fort was built in 1691 and lasted until 1781. Despite its religious origins, this French establishment was primarily known for its commercial and military functions. It was a vital link in the New France colony’s communications network and played a major role in the fur trade. All of these activities are reflected in the archaeological record revealed through controlled excavations. |
| -Drs. Michael Nassaney, Jose Brandao, and William Cremin |
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Though researchers have been looking for FSJ for over a hundred years, it was not until 1998 that the site of the fort remains was positively identified. Through a partnership with Western Michigan University (WMU), Support the Fort, Inc., the City of Niles and the extremely valuable map research performed by the late historian Dr. Joseph Peyser; WMU archaeologists found test pits containing 18th century artifacts.
Since 1998 archaeology research and summer field schools have been performed revealing slowly more and more data on the lives of the fort’s inhabitants and visitors—a topic not discussed in historical documents. To date, research has concluded that the inhabitants were eating mostly white tailed deer instead of their domesticated animals. FSJ inhabitants had time for cottage craft production such as the making of tinkling cones from scrap copper. Also, FSJ is revealing itself to be a place where both French-Canadians and Natives struggled to maintain cultural identities while at the same time adopting new technologies, hunting techniques, and ideological and religious beliefs.
Current graduate and undergraduate research includes: 1) glass beads, adornment and identity, 2) wampum, politics and trade, 3) religious artifacts, 4) museum collections of FSJ artifacts, 5) lead bale seals, 6) the link between FSJ and the terrace Lyne Site, and also 7) overall analysis of the material culture (artifacts). |
| -FSJ Archeological Project Research Team |
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The Fort St. Joseph Archaeological Project is dedicated to incorporating Public Archaeology into its mandates and curriculum. By including the local and regional community in our excavations, research and future directions of the Project, we allow a multiplicity of voices to inform our research. Though this may complicate the process of archaeology, it also results in research that the public is engaged and interested in. We welcome the public to the site of our excavations during the Open House and we welcome public involvement, advocacy and input throughout the year. The Project trains archaeologists to work in a world where archaeology and telling the story of history is a public event and no longer confined to the ivory tower. Our student archaeologists often remark that the Open House draws all aspects of their field school training into one setting and that the concept of Public Archaeology becomes meaningful and real through exchange with community members at this event. We hope to see you there!
To become more involved in the research and excavations through archaeology summer camps, please contact Carol Bainbridge, FSJ Museum Director, at: 269-683-4702 or cbainbridge[at]nilesmi.org. |
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