Burial Places/Cemetery Issues

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“The sites cover Center City almost like a bad case of measles.”

…the earliest known discovery of unmarked human remains in Philadelphia dates back to 1743. Since 1800 there have been 85 separate, documented incidents of unmarked cemeteries in Philadelphia being impacted by construction at 52 different historic burial grounds (some had repeat offenses)…..
 
….Of these, 20 unmarked cemeteries have been affected since 1985 — the last time the Philadelphia Historical Commission’s ordinance was updated, granting it expanded rights to protect archaeological resources.

Find on this page:

Philadelphia Burial Issues In The News
PA Historical & Museum Com./ Phila. Arch. Forum’s ‘Burial Grounds Forum’ Round-up
PAF’s 5-Point Plan Addressing the Burial Places Problem
Archaeological Burial Research Reports

Back to PAF Historical Burial Places Map and Database

PHILADELPHIA BURIAL ISSUES IN THE NEWS

Find news coverage related to:
PAF Historic Burial Places Map and Database
4125 Chestnut Street/Ludlow Street Cemetery
AME Burial Ground/Weccacoe Park
Burial Grounds & Cemeteries (general)
Potter’s Fields in Philadelphia
Forensic Anthropology
Kensington Burial Ground
Logan Square – Sister Cities Park
Stephen Gloucester Reburial
Mutual Burial Ground of Kensington
Queen Lane Germantown
Washington Avenue Project
Washington Square
218 Arch Street/First Baptist Church Burial Ground)

More recent Philadelphia Burial Issues In The News…
Philadelphia Burial Issues In Past News…

*Note: Philadelphia Inquirer Archives are now behind a paywall.

PHMC/PAF BURIAL GROUNDS FORUM (June 2017)

PAF’S  5-Point Plan Addressing the Burial Places Problem

burial

In this July 2017, Forum, Philadelphia Archaeological Forum President Doug Mooney provided a history of burial grounds ‘lost and found’ and impacted overtime. Philadelphia’s cemeteries have been repeatedly researched and mapped. Several examples of when burial places have been recorded were shared with the Forum audience, including this image of a 1940s register. Historical newspaper coverage was also used to demonstrate that the location of many cemeteries and burial places can be identified in records. One such example, from the Philadelphia Inquirer in 1889, identified 180 cemeteries in the city.

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See more forum images…

The 5-Point Plan proposed by the Philadelphia Archaeological Forum

Plan proposed during the Forum to deal with Philadelphia burial places:

1. Establish an official policy that historic burial places are important elements of the city’s historical legacy and are worthy of preservation.
2. Create a database/registry of all known historic cemeteries and burial places. (*underway)
3. List all historic burial places in the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places as a Thematic District.
. Similar to existing Historic Streets Thematic District
. PHMC given full review authority; responsibility to require appropriate archaeological investigations.
4. Pass an ordinance establishing a process for treating unmarked burial places.
. Clear, concise, step-by-step guidelines, rules, and regulations
. Cemetery review made part of standard permitting process
5. Establish clear oversight and accountability roles for city agencies
. L&I given authority to compel compliance with established guidelines and to have responsible party petition the Orphan’s Court Division.
. Historical Commission authorized to provide oversight of cemetery/burial removal and relocation process, associated archaeological studies and
reporting.
. Add 1 or more qualified archaeologists to Phia. Historical Commission Staff; possessing necessary expertise to ensure all archaeological studies
are completed in accordance with established guidelines and professional standards.

Read more about the June 2017 proposed plan:

NEXTCITY’S story, Philadelphia Plans for Future Density Require Dealing With Historic Sites, written by Karen Chernick (October 25, 2017).

RESEARCH and REPORTING ON ARCHAEOLOGICAL BURIALS IN PHILADELPHIA

Go to Research And Reporting On Archaeological Burials in Philadelphia here…

Read more about the Burial Places Map and Database:

 


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