The Harlem African Burial Ground Project: Effective Collaboration Between an Archaeological Consulting Firm, a City Agency, and a Community Task Force

Summary

In the summer of 2015, the NYC Economic Development Corporation hired AKRF to conduct an archaeological survey inside a decommissioned bus depot in East Harlem, NY, the site of the c. 1665 to mid-19th century Harlem African Burial Ground. All surface signs of the burial ground were erased by more than 150 years of development and its history had been largely forgotten. However, passionate area residents, elected officials, and the leadership of the Harlem-based descendent church united to advocate for recognition of the site’s history. Organized as the Harlem African Burial Ground Task Force, the group tirelessly worked to reclaim the past, restore the dignity of those interred, and to memorialize the historically and culturally significant site. This presentation discusses the fascinating project and an initially tentative consultation process that developed into a meaningful collaboration between city agencies, consultants, and the community task force.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for Historical Archaeology 2018   •
• Reclaiming Identity at Forgotten Cemeteries in New York City

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Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 870