With the discovery of gold in 1862, Chinese miners were some of the earliest fortune seekers to flock to Bannack. Though little remains in the historic record, archeology gives a window into their lives, how they maintained cultural traditions, and their connection to transnational communities. Recent archeological findings in Bannack shed new light on the region’s Chinese population. This is evident most specifically through a newly discovered Chinese cemetery, verified through the archeological interpretation and through comparison with similar sites across Montana. Additionally, building from archeological remnants relating to Bannack’s Chinese community, this session will feature investigation into opium usage and the archeological record of this habit (including how/why some artifacts are frequently misattributed to opium paraphernalia). Lessons learned from this study can be applied to further understanding of Chinese communities across Montana.