INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis Department of Public Works (Indy DPW) archaeological consultant, Stantec, has notified Indy DPW that the archaeological excavation of the Henry Street right of way is now complete. Since October 2024, approximately 100 Stantec professionals worked at the site at various times, carefully removing the contents of 1,709 grave shafts, the majority of which contained human remains. The Archaeological Workplan defined the process of identifying, documenting, removing and analyzing the individuals who were interred in the portion of Greenlawn Cemetery, specifically in the Original Burying Ground and New Burying Ground, impacted by the project. The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) oversaw and provided guidance during the excavation process in accordance with Indiana law.
As the human remains were excavated, Stantec photographed and documented them, as well as grave markers and other artifacts found in or near the grave shafts. Human remains are now in Dr. Jeremy Wilson’s lab at Indiana University — Indianapolis for analysis. While still early in the process, Dr. Wilson is creating profiles for excavated individuals, which includes approximate age at death, sex, stature, biogeographic ancestry, and physical conditions occurring or before death.
While Dr. Wilson is analyzing the individuals, Stantec will continue researching and documenting material culture.
Research on the former Greenlawn Cemetery is available at www.wridinfrastructure.com.