INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Department of Public Works (Indy DPW) announced that human remains and grave shafts were discovered late last month as crews prepare to relocate utilities and begin excavation for the Henry Street Bridge project. The discoveries were shared with the Henry Street Community Advisory Group (CAG) last week.
For more than a year, city officials have been meeting with concerned community members regarding the site of the Henry Street Bridge and its approaches. The Henry Street right of way east of the river occupies a portion of the city’s first cemetery, a collection of four long-abandoned cemeteries often referred to collectively as Greenlawn Cemetery.
Stantec, Indy DPW’s archaeology consultant, discovered 15 grave shafts at approximately three to four feet deep while preparing to begin archaeological excavation east of the White River. They also identified a possible footstone, as well as a headstone base for a total of seven monument pieces. The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) approved the work plan, which identifies the process of excavating, documenting, and removing human remains and artifacts within the Henry Street right of way.
The team was in the process of installing the shoring stabilization system when the grave shafts were identified. Since the grave shafts were identified at a shallow depth, the shoring work was stopped to allow for exhumation of the identified remains.
Trained bioarchaeologists and archaeologists will carefully remove the area above and around each grave shaft by hand. Once all human remains are exposed, photographs and data documentation will be completed and remains will be exhumed and sent to Dr. Jeremy Wilson’s lab at Indiana University – Indianapolis for analysis. The discovery of the grave shafts and artifacts will inform the community more about those buried there.
Throughout the excavation process, which is expected to last until spring of 2025, tents will cover the work areas. This not only protects the remains and artifacts being excavated but also preserves the integrity and honors those who were interred in the area.