Ancestral Return to the African Burying Ground



Participants

Timeline

Y/M/D Description Place
1795/00/00 From the 1690s until 1794, both free and enslaved Africans are buried outside the boundaries of New Amsterdam in the Negroes Burial Ground. African Burying Ground National Monument, New York City
1989/00/00 A Stage 1A Cultural Resource Survey is completed in the area of Republican Alley (ABG site). The compliance cultural research study assisted archaeologist to determine any potential archaeological and cultural impacts of construction on 290 Broadway. African Burying Ground National Monument, New York City
1991/00/00 Near 290 Broadway, archaeological excavations find intact human skeletal remains located 30 feet below street level. The remains of 419 people were excavated between 1991 and 1992. A T Stewart Company Store, New York City
1999/00/00 During construction of a new sidewalk in front of the Tweed Building, nine intact burials are found on the southern edge of the African Burying Ground. Unmarked beneath the sidewalks, roads and buildings, upwards of 15,000 skeletons remain. Tweed Courthouse, New York City
2000/00/00 Between 1991 and 2003, skeletons from the New York City African Burying Ground are analyzed at Howard University in Washington, DC. Howard University Yard, Washington, DC
2003/09/30 The Rites of Ancestral Return ceremony begins with an Evening Departure Ceremony from Howard University to return ancestral remains to New York City. Howard University Yard, Washington, DC
2003/10/01 Wednesday, Oct 1 Noon Commemorative Ceremony - Baltimore MD
2003/10/01 Wednesday, Evening Commemorative Ceremony - Delaware
2003/10/02 Thursday, Commemorative - Philadelphia
2003/10/02 Thursday, Evening Commemorative - Newark, NJ
2003/10/03 African Burying Ground Rites of Ancestral Return arrives in New York City.
2003/10/04 Ancestral remains from Howard University, each in a hand-carved wooden coffin made in Gahana, are given a final resting-place at the African Burial Ground Site (former Republican Alley). African Burying Ground National Monument, New York City
2007/10/05 Maya Angelou, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Congressman Jerrold Nadler lead the African Burial Ground Memorial's Dedication Ceremony. African Burying Ground National Monument, New York City

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