Were all the remains removed from the site?   No. It has been estimated that as many as 200 burials may remain undisturbed on this site.

If the original burial ground covered about 6 city blocks, does that mean that the area around Broadway down to City Hall still holds remains?   That can only be determined by excavation in those areas.

How can we be sure that those buried in the New York African Burial Ground were Africans?   Scientific analysis of the remains indicate that the remains found at 290 Broadway, are indeed of African origin or descent.

Where were the artifacts found?   The artifacts were found in and around the human remains.  Some have been positively identified as relating to a specific individual.

What is going to happen to the artifacts? Which artifacts will be replicated and when?   Artifacts recovered from within the coffins and those directly associated with skeletal remains have been replicated.  The original artifacts will be reburied in the appropriate coffins.

Do we know any of the names of the people buried in the New York African Burial Ground?  Why was there no record of who they were?   No names can be attributed to the individual burials. Records of births and deaths were kept by churches rather than by the colonial or early state governments.  However, some Africans were not church members and most church records from the 18th century have not survived.

Why is this part of history not taught in schools, particularly the fact that New York had the second largest enslaved population outside of South Carolina at the eve of the American Revolution and that the enslaved Africans built early New York.   Until now, very little has been known about the lives of the enslaved population for a variety of reasons that are well beyond the scope of this web page.  It is hoped that the research being conducted by Howard University will lead to additional research and dissemination to the broader academic community.

What happens to the skin (bodies) when people die?  (Children's most frequent question)   The skin and organs decompose soon after burial. Bones also decompose, but at a much slower rate.

What is the exact number of individuals excavated?   419 coffins with skeletal remains will be reinterred.

What measures has GSA taken to ensure that the DNA samples are preserved pending future research opportunities?   All resources related to the ABG, including DNA samples, have been inventoried and stored in accordance with federal regulations and accepted professional standards. The government will select a long-term repository when all current research has been completed. Access to these materials for future research will be determined on a case-by-case basis by appropriately qualified professionals.

Were there any tombstones found at the site that can identify the deceased?   No.

What religious practices were performed at the burial?   Since records of the burial were not kept, nothing specific is known about religious practices relating to the burials.  Howard University's research will address this question.

Are there still remains under the 290 Broadway building and in the surrounding area?   There are no human remains under the Federal Building at 290 Broadway.  There are an estimated 200 undisturbed remains on the burial ground site.  There is no way of knowing what may exist within the confines of the larger, original African Burial Ground site.