A New Hochelagan Burying-ground Discovered at Westmount on the Western Spur of Mount Royal, Montreal, July-September, 1898

A surprising series of shallow graves has turned up on the western spur of Mount Royal, the high ground that crowns modern‑day Westmount. The burials, spaced over an area roughly six hundred by three hundred yards, were uncovered by gardeners and local citizens who stumbled upon skeletons with knees drawn up—a burial style noted in early indigenous customs. Their discovery has sparked a quiet excitement among scholars eager to piece together the vanished world of the people once called Hochelagan.

The investigation, led by a diligent local antiquarian, has focused on the physical traits of the remains and the subtle clues left in the soil, such as scattered limestone fragments that might once have been tools or ornaments. While no obvious grave goods were found, the consistent burial posture and facial features point to a distinct Native American lineage, possibly linking the site to the enigmatic Mohawk‑Hochelagan relationship. Today the preserved skulls reside in a historic museum, offering listeners a glimpse into the early archaeological efforts that first illuminated Montreal’s ancient past.