“We the People”: Historical Cemetery Archaeology in Philadelphia

This collection contains the abstracts of the papers presented in the session entitled "“We the People”: Historical Cemetery Archaeology in Philadelphia," at the 2022 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

Philadelphia’s cemeteries tell the stories of the people who built and shaped the “Birthplace of America.” These sacred sites and the remains of those buried in them provide information unavailable from any other source about the everyday lives, health, and mortuary practices of people who are otherwise invisible to history. Collectively, this information reveals over three centuries of acculturation and urbanization, class conflict and competition, racism and inequity, resistance and perseverance, and accomplishment among the people who witnessed many of America’s most important historical events. This session includes papers on projects that represent a wide range of cemetery types complemented by presentations on mortuary artifacts, human remains, and efforts to preserve these unique cultural resources.