The Archaeology of African Burial Ground National Monument, New York City, NY

Amid the hectic commerce and civic business of lower Manhattan is the final resting place of approximately 15,000 African Americans. They were buried, mainly during the eighteenth century, in the country's oldest known urban African cemetery. On February 27, 2006, using the authority of the Antiquities Act of 1906, President George W. Bush proclaimed a portion of this site a National Monument. The total area of the cemetery is estimated to be 7 acres and the entire site was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1993. The president's proclamation set aside National Monument in order to "promote understanding...encourage continuing research, and present interpretive opportunities and programs for visitors to better understand and honor the culture and vital contributions of generations of Africans and Americans of African descent to our Nation."

Free and enslaved Africans and African Americans buried their dead in the African Burial Ground, located outside the border of the original colonial town of New York. Burials may have begun as early as the mid-seventeenth century, but mainly the area was used as a cemetery from 1700 onward, by which time many of New York's churches prohibited the interment of free or enslaved Africans in the cemeteries of white congregations. The African Burial Ground continued in use until about 1795 when the demands of a developing, expanding New York City and growing population encroached upon then swept over the cemetery, most of which was in a low-lying area to the east of a north-south ridge upon which Broadway Avenue was constructed. By 1812, many of the graves had been covered with up to 25 feet of historic fill and soil. Not long afterwards, buildings and streets were constructed atop the newly filled surface and markings on a few historic maps became the only clues of the existence of the many burials far below the surface.

This collection contains detailed reports about the archaeology, history, and human remains of the African Burial Ground. In addition to the texts, the reports contain a wealth of maps, photos of artifacts, and other images. The reports are the result of research by a wide range of scholars, humanists and scientists, from a variety of institutions.

Site Name Keywords
African Burial Ground • Negroes Burying Ground • Negros Burial Ground • Negroes Burial Ground

Site Type Keywords
Funerary and Burial Structures or Features • Cemetery

Other Keywords
Coffins • Buttons

Culture Keywords
Historic • African American

Investigation Types
Data Recovery / Excavation • Archaeological Overview

Material Types
Human Remains • Metal • Ceramic • Glass • Mineral • Shell • Fauna • Macrobotanical • Pollen • Wood

Geographic Keywords
New York County (County) • New York • Manhattan

Resources Inside This Collection (Viewing 1-77 of 77)

Documents

Draft Management Recommendations for the African Burial Ground. Bibliography (2006)

Draft Management Recommendations for the African Burial Ground. Chapter 1. Purpose and Need for the Report (2006)

Draft Management Recommendations for the African Burial Ground. Chapter 2. Historic Background of the African Burial Ground (2006)

Draft Management Recommendations for the African Burial Ground. Chapter 3. Civic Engagement (2006)

Draft Management Recommendations for the African Burial Ground. Chapter 4. Elements Underlying Interpretation and Education (2006)

Draft Management Recommendations for the African Burial Ground. Chapter 5. Mission Goals (2006)

Draft Management Recommendations for the African Burial Ground. Chapter 6. Choices for the Future (2006)

Draft Management Recommendations for the African Burial Ground. Chapter 7. Long-Term Interpretative Plan Summary (2006)

Draft Management Recommendations for the African Burial Ground. Cover Pages (2006)

Draft Management Recommendations for the African Burial Ground. Table of Contents and Summary (2006)

New York African Burial Ground Archaeology Final Report, Volume 1. Archaeological Site Plan map (Figure 1.7) (2006)

New York African Burial Ground Archaeology Final Report, Volume 1. Chapter 1. Introduction (2006)

New York African Burial Ground Archaeology Final Report, Volume 1. Chapter 10. Coffins (2006)

New York African Burial Ground Archaeology Final Report, Volume 1. Chapter 11. Pins and Shrouding (2006)

New York African Burial Ground Archaeology Final Report, Volume 1. Chapter 12. Buttons and Fasteners (2006)

New York African Burial Ground Archaeology Final Report, Volume 1. Chapter 13. Beads and Other Adornment (2006)

New York African Burial Ground Archaeology Final Report, Volume 1. Chapter 14. Coins, Shells, Pipes, and Other Items (2006)

New York African Burial Ground Archaeology Final Report, Volume 1. Chapter 15. Summary and Conclusions (2006)

New York African Burial Ground Archaeology Final Report, Volume 1. Chapter 2. Documentary Evidence on the Origin and Use of the African Burial Ground (2006)

New York African Burial Ground Archaeology Final Report, Volume 1. Chapter 3. The Archaeological Site (2006)

New York African Burial Ground Archaeology Final Report, Volume 1. Chapter 4. Relative Dating (2006)

New York African Burial Ground Archaeology Final Report, Volume 1. Chapter 5. Overview of Mortuary Population, Burial Practices, and Spatial Distribution (2006)

New York African Burial Ground Archaeology Final Report, Volume 1. Chapter 6. The Early Group (2006)

New York African Burial Ground Archaeology Final Report, Volume 1. Chapter 7. The Middle Group (2006)

New York African Burial Ground Archaeology Final Report, Volume 1. Chapter 8. The Late-Middle Group (2006)

New York African Burial Ground Archaeology Final Report, Volume 1. Chapter 9. The Late Group (2006)

New York African Burial Ground Archaeology Final Report, Volume 1. Front Matter and Table of Contents (2006)

New York African Burial Ground Archaeology Final Report, Volume 1. References (2006)

New York African Burial Ground Archaeology Final Report, Volume 2. Descriptions of Burials 1 Through 200. Burials 1 Through 50 (2006)

New York African Burial Ground Archaeology Final Report, Volume 2. Descriptions of Burials 1 Through 200. Burials 101 Through 150 (2006)

New York African Burial Ground Archaeology Final Report, Volume 2. Descriptions of Burials 1 Through 200. Burials 151 Through 200 (2006)

New York African Burial Ground Archaeology Final Report, Volume 2. Descriptions of Burials 1 Through 200. Burials 51 Through 100 (2006)

New York African Burial Ground Archaeology Final Report, Volume 3. Descriptions of Burials 201 Through 435. Burials 201 Through 250 (2006)

New York African Burial Ground Archaeology Final Report, Volume 3. Descriptions of Burials 201 Through 435. Burials 251 Through 300 (2006)

New York African Burial Ground Archaeology Final Report, Volume 3. Descriptions of Burials 201 Through 435. Burials 301 Through 350 (2006)

New York African Burial Ground Archaeology Final Report, Volume 3. Descriptions of Burials 201 Through 435. Burials 351 Through 400 (2006)

New York African Burial Ground Archaeology Final Report, Volume 3. Descriptions of Burials 201 Through 435. Burials 401 Through 435 (2006)

New York African Burial Ground Archaeology Final Report, Volume 4. Appendices. Appendix A Documents (2006)

New York African Burial Ground Archaeology Final Report, Volume 4. Appendices. Appendix B Site Datum Points (2006)

New York African Burial Ground Archaeology Final Report, Volume 4. Appendices. Appendix C Basic Burial Data (2006)

New York African Burial Ground Archaeology Final Report, Volume 4. Appendices. Appendix D Site Excavation Forms (2006)

New York African Burial Ground Archaeology Final Report, Volume 4. Appendices. Appendix E Inventory of Non-Skeletal Material from Graves and Grave Shafts (2006)

New York African Burial Ground Archaeology Final Report, Volume 4. Appendices. Appendix F Analysis of Local Stoneware and Kiln Furniture from the Grave Shafts (2006)

New York African Burial Ground Archaeology Final Report, Volume 4. Appendices. Appendix G Specialized Analyses of Plant Remains (2006)

New York African Burial Ground Archaeology Final Report, Volume 4. Appendices. Appendix H Lists of Tables and Fields in African Burial Ground Archaeological Database (2006)

New York African Burial Ground Archaeology Final Report, Volume 4. Appendices. Appendix I Stratigraphically Related Burials (Series Charts) (2006)

New York African Burial Ground Archaeology Final Report, Volume 4. Appendices. Appendix J Supplemental Coffin Data (2006)

New York African Burial Ground Archaeology Final Report, Volume 4. Appendices. Cover Page and Table of Contents (2006)

New York African Burial Ground History Final Report (2004)

New York African Burial Ground History Final Report. Front Matter, Table of Contents, and Introduction (2004)

New York African Burial Ground History Final Report. Report and Bibliography (2004)

New York African Burial Ground History Final Report. Table of Contents (2004)

New York African Burial Ground Skeletal Biology Final Report, Volume 1. Bibliography (2004)

New York African Burial Ground Skeletal Biology Final Report, Volume 1. Chapter 1. Introduction (2004)

New York African Burial Ground Skeletal Biology Final Report, Volume 1. Chapter 10. Osteological Indicators of Infectious Disease and Nutritional Inadequacy (2004)

New York African Burial Ground Skeletal Biology Final Report, Volume 1. Chapter 11. Skeletal Indicators of Work: Musculoskeletal, Arthritic and Traumatic Effects (2004)

New York African Burial Ground Skeletal Biology Final Report, Volume 1. Chapter 12. Subadult Growth and Development (2004)

New York African Burial Ground Skeletal Biology Final Report, Volume 1. Chapter 13. The Political Economy of Forced Migration: Sex Ratios, Mortality, Population, Growth and Fertility among Africans in Colonial New York (2004)

New York African Burial Ground Skeletal Biology Final Report, Volume 1. Chapter 14. Discussion (2004)

New York African Burial Ground Skeletal Biology Final Report, Volume 1. Chapter 2. History and Comparison of Bioarchaeological Studies in the African Diaspora (2004)

New York African Burial Ground Skeletal Biology Final Report, Volume 1. Chapter 3. Theory: An Ethical Epistemology of Publicly Engaged Biocultural Research (2004)

New York African Burial Ground Skeletal Biology Final Report, Volume 1. Chapter 4. Laboratory Organization, Methods, and Processes (2004)

New York African Burial Ground Skeletal Biology Final Report, Volume 1. Chapter 5. Origins of the New York African Burial Ground Population: Biological Evidence of Geographical and Macroethnic Affiliations Using Craniometrics, Dental Morphology, and Preliminary Genetic Analysis (2004)

New York African Burial Ground Skeletal Biology Final Report, Volume 1. Chapter 6. Isotopic and Elemental Chemistry of Teeth: Implications for Places of birth, Forced Migration Patterns, Nutritional Status, and Pollution (2004)

New York African Burial Ground Skeletal Biology Final Report, Volume 1. Chapter 7. Demographic Overview of the African Burial Ground and Colonial Africans of New York (2004)

New York African Burial Ground Skeletal Biology Final Report, Volume 1. Chapter 8. Childhood Health and Dental Development (2004)

New York African Burial Ground Skeletal Biology Final Report, Volume 1. Chapter 9. Odontological Indicators of Disease, Diet and Nutrition Inadequacy (2004)

New York African Burial Ground Skeletal Biology Final Report, Volume 1. Front Matter and Table of Contents (2004)

New York African Burial Ground Skeletal Biology Final Report, Volume 2. Appendix A Research Design Subcommittee Statement and ABG Physical Anthropological Peer Review Panel Report - Section 1 (2004)

New York African Burial Ground Skeletal Biology Final Report, Volume 2. Appendix A Research Design Subcommittee Statement and ABG Physical Anthropological Peer Review Panel Report - Section 2 (2004)

New York African Burial Ground Skeletal Biology Final Report, Volume 2. Appendix B New York African Burial Ground Project Skeletal Analysis Forms (2004)

New York African Burial Ground Skeletal Biology Final Report, Volume 2. Appendix C Preservation Status Codes for New York African Burial Ground Burials (2004)

New York African Burial Ground Skeletal Biology Final Report, Volume 2. Front Matter and Table of Contents (2004)

New York African Burial Ground Skeletal Biology Final Report, Volume 2. Section IV: Burial Descriptions (2004)

Projects

The Archaeology of African Burial Ground National Monument, New York