Excavation of the Russian Cemetery at Fort Ross (KCRA TV3 News, 1991).

In 1991, KCRA TV3 News (of Sacramento, California) aired a two-part story about an archaeological excavation that was then underway at Fort Ross State Historic Park, in northern California. The archaeological investigation was directed by Dr. Lynne Goldstein of the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. During the summers of 1990-1992, Dr. Goldstein brought her archaeological field class to Fort Ross. Dr. Goldstein's work was conducted in conjunction with California State Parks and the Russian Orthodox Church. Prior to Dr. Goldstein's work, the location and nature of the cemetery was unclear. Priests from the ROC wished to better locate the graves and perform the Last Rites for those buried there. Prior to the project, it was believed that approximately fifty Russian men were buried in the cemetery in the 1820s-1830s. It was determined, however, that almost 140 graves existed within the cemetery and that women and children outnumbered men. It was also found that Alaskan Natives outnumbered ethnic Russians. Those buried in the cemetery were Orthodox Christians and all were given Last Rites prior to reburial in the original gravesites. Today, new wooden crosses mark each of the graves.