Learning From (Un)Marked Graves: The Evalutation of Captive and Freed African and African American Mortuary Practices

Summary

This is an abstract from the session entitled "Paper / Report Submission (General Sessions)", at the 2023 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

This paper investigates the unmarked cemeteries of the captive and emancipated individuals at the Cedar Grove Plantation and surrounding Antebellum plantations in western Tennessee. The previous research conducted at Cedar Grove Plantation by Rhodes College focused on the daily lives and households of the captive African and African Americans through analyses of architectural materials, ceramics, and personal items. In this mortuary investigation, we used non-invasive methods to identify unmarked graves, examined associated above-ground grave markers and goods, and analyzed historical documentation to better understand the burial practices and living conditions of the captive and emancipated individuals in this region. This study is part of a larger community-based project that will memorialize and preserve the historical significance of these graves and help facilitate reconciliation with, for, and by the surrounding communities.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Paper / Report Submission (General Sessions)   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2023

Keywords

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Nicole Haddow