Michigan State University Department of Anthropology
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Marquette Mission Site - St. Ignace, Michigan

Conclusions
Our preliminary analysis of space, time and ethnicity at the Marquette Mission site has brought to light temporal distinctions between the manner in which this area was used by Huron villagers and the French military. We suggest that the presence of both ethnic groups overlapping in space can best be explained as the result of initial Huron occupation followed by abandonment and re-use by the French. Only a portion of the Huron village is represented within the excavated area of the site. At least one longhouse is present and the area to the west of that building is likely to have contained several different activity areas associated with the village. There are also likely candidates for the palisade that accompanied that village, but we have not explored this issue here.

Following the abandonment of this part of the village, the area was used by the French military. Using the historical information we can identify likely time periods when this may have occurred. When Fort de Baude was established in 1689 it is possible that the Huron abandoned this portion of the village – if there since 1671, they would have inhabited the house for almost 20 years and we know that in earlier times the Huron moved their villages in Huronia every 10-12 years. Alternatively, after Cadillac had enticed many Huron to join in the venture at Fort Ponchartrain in 1701, this part of the village may have been abandoned. We know there was a renewed military presence associated with the revitalization of the fur trade before Fort Michilimackinac was built on the south side of the straits. It is possible that the French occupation documented at Marquette Mission dates to ca. 1712 to 1717.