Parks Canada had to conduct major repairs to the crumbling stone foundation of Herbin's Cross in 1982. Knowing that John Frederic Herbin had built the cross here to mark the site of the Acadian cemetery, Parks Canada decided to conduct archaeological excavations beside the cross to see if any evidence of this cemetery could be found. That way, they could ensure that repair work would not damage any burials.

Archaeologists excavated a 2mx3m trench just north of the stone cross in August 1982. Within this area, at a depth of about 25cm, they found four rectangular soil stain features. The soil within these features was darker than the surrounding soil.

The excavation trench completely uncovered one of these features, while the others were only partly uncovered. The complete feature measured 180cm long and 75cm wide, with the long axis running east-west. Archaeologists excavated this feature completely, revealing traces of decayed wood as well as a number of iron nails. The decayed wood, about 2cm thick, formed a rectangular trace measuring 165cm east-west and 60cm north-south.

Several of the nails in the east and west ends of the feature were found standing vertically, while others were resting horizontally. Those nails that were complete measured from 6.4cm-7.3cm in length.

No evidence of human remains was found.

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