Toward a Historical Archaeology of the Chinese in Montana and a Transnational Lens

Chinese immigrants started arriving in Montana in 1862 to participate in the region’s growing economic growth from gold mining. Over the next 80 years, the Chinese population contributed to the cultural fabric of the state, while contending with a number of challenges, including growing anti-Chinese sentiment, collapse of their population after passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act, and lack of opportunity for families and entrepreneurial interests. Framing the historical and archaeological story of the Chinese in Montana in regional and transnational trends can broaden the analytical lens compared to other more site-specific narratives.