Activity Report
African Burial Ground Project
Pursuant to the Amended Memorandum of Agreement

October 31, 2003

This report covers events surrounding the African Burial Ground (ABG) Project for the period of August 2003 through October 2003.

Introduction

The activities for this reporting period include the weeklong events associated with the Rites of Ancestral Return reinterment ceremonies, as well as the ongoing activities to complete the technical reports and the continuing coordination regarding the Exterior Memorial and Interpretive Center for the site. A brief list of meetings, telephone conversations, etc., held during this reporting period is provided as Appendix A.

Activities of the Reporting Period

Rites of Ancestral Return Reinterment Ceremonies
(Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture)

The Rites of Ancestral Return commenced on September 30, 2003, with a tribute ceremony at the Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel at Howard University. The four individuals representing all of the deceased were then taken to Baltimore, Wilmington, Philadelphia and Newark on October 1st and 2nd for tributes in each community. On Friday, October 3, 2003, the four coffins were taken by flotilla from Jersey City to Wall Street, where, after a brief ceremony, they joined a procession of five horse-drawn wagons carrying the remaining coffins up Broadway to the memorial site at Duane Street. The wagons were escorted by members of a number of diverse community organizations, who, acting as pallbearers, transferred the coffins from the wagons to the crypts. After the coffins were placed into the crypts, a viewing and vigil commenced to allow members of the public an opportunity to pay their respects. On the following day, October 4, 2003, an internationally attended, public tribute was held to conclude the Rites of Ancestral Return ceremonies with the lowering of the seven wooden crypts containing the human remains and associated artifacts of 419 individuals.
 
 
Technical Studies (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers/Howard University)

The Howard University team has continued its preparation of the history and skeletal biology draft reports, the completion of the archaeological analysis, and the preparation of the archaeology report.

To date the History Team, under the direction of Dr. Edna Medford, has submitted a second draft history report, which has been reviewed by the History Advisory Review Board. This draft report was also submitted to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and National Park Service (NPS) for their review. The review agencies provided comments, which were submitted to Howard University.

The Skeletal Biology team, under the direction of Dr. Michael Blakey, has submitted a second draft skeletal biology report, which has been reviewed by Skeletal Biology Advisory Review Board. This draft report was also submitted to the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, and National Park Service for their review. The review agencies provided comments, which were submitted to Howard University.

The Archaeology Team, under the direction of Drs. Warren Perry and Jean Howson, have begun writing the archaeology report. Ceramic specialist Dr. Meta Janowitz has continued the identification and classification of the stoneware sherds. Based upon the results of the various public forums and in consultation with the project archaeologists, GSA determined that the burial artifacts – those items found within the burial in association with the individual – as well as coffin hardware, including nails and tacks, wood coffin fragments and any other material that was directly associated with the individual burials would be reintered as part of the reburial ceremonies. Artifacts, primarily the stonewares found in the fill on the site, which were not associated with the burial of the individuals, would not be reintered.

Dr. Howson and archaeologists from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) also re-inventoried all of the coffin hardware, coffin fragments, soil samples and all other burial-related artifacts that were recovered in association with the human remains and had been stored in the laboratory at the Bowling Green Customs House. This activity involved comparing the artifacts present to the inventory developed by Drs. Howson and Perry to ensure all burial artifacts are accounted for prior to reburial. Also at this, time all of the burial artifacts were gathered together for placement in the corresponding coffins.

From 17 September through 24 September 2003, the Bronx Council on the Arts working with the Corps placed all of the burial artifacts, coffin hardware, and coffin fragments into the corresponding coffins. The exterior of each coffin was also photographed to document the various symbols and scenes carved on each one. The soil samples, as well as the stones that may have been grave markers, were placed in 290 Broadway for placement on top of the crypts. As part of the ceremony, mourners placed some of this soil on top of the crypts once the crypts had been lowered into the ground. A few days after the reinterment, the remainder of the soil samples was replaced on top of the crypts.
 
 
Replication of Burial Artifacts (NPS)

In September 2003, GSA contracted with the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation for the replication of a number of burial objects, including buttons, rings, and straight pins. A total of 31 individual artifacts will be replicated. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation made molds of the artifacts and documented the each artifact with digital photographs. The artifacts were returned to New York City prior to reburial and placed within their corresponding coffins by the Bronx Council on the Arts.

For the other artifacts that were not replicated, additional photographs were taken to allow for replication in the future, if necessary. For a number of artifact types, such as beads and coins, it is possible to purchase mass-produced copies, or in the case of coins, actual originals for use in the interpretive center.
 
 
Archives Project (U.S. Army Corp of Engineers)

During this quarter, the archival team has conducted three field visits to locate, identify and assess project documentation. The remaining two field visits will be conducted in the next few months. The feasibility study, the condition assessment and the field catalog have been drafted and are undergoing review.
 
 
Interpretive Center and Exterior Memorial (National Park Service)

On September 22, 2003, GSA and NPS signed a formal inter-agency agreement that will allow the NPS to work with GSA and the community on the development of the Exterior Memorial and Interpretive Center. The NPS has begun preparation of the Support Agreements that define the Scope of Work for each project in consultation with GSA and other interested parties.

 
 

Consultation

Meeting with Regulatory Agencies, 26 Federal Plaza, 26 August 2003

On 26 August 2003, Karl Reichelt, Regional Administrator, GSA, met with representatives from the regulatory agencies providing oversight to the project regarding the status of the research and coordination with the public prior to reinterment. In attendance were:

GSA Public Forums

Public Forum – August 13, 2003

The public forum was held at Hunter College, and consisted of presentations by Christopher Moore, Schomburg Center, regarding the history of enslaved Africans in New York City. Mark Dremel, Project Manager, GSA, made a brief presentation regarding the reburial of artifacts. Mr. Dremel made reference to and summarized the previous discussions of the artifacts presented by Dr. Jean Howson and Dr. Warren Perry regarding the types of artifacts recovered. Based on these discussions and the archaeological research, all of the artifacts that were found in direct association with each burial, such as buttons, beads, straight pins, coins, coffin nails, and fragments of coffins, would be reburied with the individual. The artifacts recovered as part of the fill on the site, primarily fragments of the pottery produced at the potteries that had been in operation along Broadway, would not be reburied with the individuals. Mr. Dremel’s presentation was followed by an opportunity for the members of the audience to ask questions of GSA, Mr. Moore or the moderator, Diane Dayson, NPS.
 
 

Appendix A

Timeline of Meetings and Telephone Conferences conducted by
the ABG Project Team

 August – October 2003