14 - Old Wadena

Birk was approached by the Wadena County Historical Society in 1990 to conduct archaeological surveys of several historic properties within the Old Wadena County Park north of Staples, Minnesota. Birk, who had briefly surveyed the area in 1972, returned to the area with IMA colleagues in 1992 and conducted excavations at the site of the Little Round Hill trading post. From 1995 to 2002 Birk conducted further surveys and excavations at the Cadotte trading post and the elusive "Aspinwall site." Birk also assisted the Historical Society and the separately organized Wadena Historic and Environmental Learning Project (WHELP) to design interpretive material for the site including signage and a proposed visitor center.