KINGSTON, N.Y. — During this summer, college students engaged in an archaeological excavation in Kingston, New York, unearthing the forgotten history of a centuries-old African American cemetery located within a residential area.
Originally a burial ground established in 1750, this site served as a resting place for enslaved individuals, situated at the outskirts of the city of Kingston. Historical records indicate that many people denied church burials were interred here until the cemetery was ultimately covered as urban development progressed into the late 19th century.
Today, efforts are underway to reclaim this area as the Pine Street African Burial Ground, part of a national movement dedicated to revitalizing neglected cemeteries for African Americans. Over the past three years, the remains of as many as 27 individuals have been discovered on-site.
Local advocates have purchased a residential property covering a portion of the old cemetery and are using it as a visitor center. Fundraising efforts are in progress to transform this urban backyard into a dignified memorial space. Although the names of those buried here remain unknown, plans are being made for tests on the remains to reveal insights about their lives and identify potential descendants.
“The hardships of those buried here cannot just go down in vain,” stated Tyrone Wilson, founder of a local nonprofit organization driving this project. “We have a responsibility to restore respect to their memory.”
The over-half-acre cemetery, designated in 1750, may have been in use prior to this date, with burial practices continuing until approximately 1878—long after New York abolished slavery. Researchers note a profound cultural significance in the burial positioning, as individuals were often interred with their feet oriented eastward, symbolically preparing for Judgment Day.
Remains found on the property are preserved in situ, cocooned in patterned African textiles, while those from adjoining land are being excavated for respectful reinterment. Recently, anthropology students from a local university participated in supervised excavations in this historical area, earning academic credit while contributing to a project that resonates deeply with them.
“I don’t like when people feel upset or forgotten,” one student remarked during a break, emphasizing the urgency of revitalizing this neglected history.
Efforts are underway to raise $1 million to develop a meaningful memorial that honors the African heritage of those interred. Proposed plans include a prominent marker at the center of the site.
While it appears some graves were marked, identifying individuals remains a challenge.
“Some graves were marked only with stones lacking inscriptions,” noted a local anthropology professor.
The only fully intact headstone recovered bears the name Caezar Smith, a formerly enslaved individual who passed away at 41 in 1839. Additional research has uncovered two other possible burials from 1803, highlighting the need for ongoing investigation into the cemetery’s history.
Initially covered by a lumberyard by 1880, the cemetery’s location was largely forgotten until a survey in 1990 brought attention back to it. A local building owner discovered bone fragments while conducting renovations, prompting further investigation.
Despite the compelling evidence of graves, convincing the community of their existence proved challenging. In 1996, plans were made to build a parking lot over the site, which has since been protected through advocacy efforts.
Similar stories of rediscovery persist across the nation, where numerous African American burial sites remain overlooked or unrecognized.
Advocates are optimistic that scientific testing of the remains will help fill in historical gaps. Potential isotopic and DNA analyses could reveal valuable information regarding individuals’ origins and possibly link them to modern descendants, thereby enhancing cultural connections.
“One of the biggest issues in African culture is the loss of historical identity,” Wilson emphasized, reaffirming the commitment to uncover and acknowledge this buried heritage.
