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June 24, 2008

Old remains uncovered in Cranston now being re-buried

Journal photo / Kathy Borchers
Jay Waller of the Public Archeology Lab labels stakes that mark each new grave. Eventually, the graves will have granite markers with names and birthdates on them.

CRANSTON -- The state Department of Transportation today began the process of re-burying remains of 67 people, following discovery two years ago of bones in a parking area along Route 37.

They were remains from graves dating to the late 1800s, exposed by soil erosion.

Two years ago, some employees were walking around at lunch hour and found bones that had washed into the parking lot from a Route 37 embankment, behind the former Davol building in the Sockanosset Cross Road area.

Investigation determined they were remains of men, women and children who died at the State Farm -- a place for those who lived in poverty known as the state potter's field -- at the turn of the 20th century. The state burial ground was used by the State Farm from 1875 to 1918.

Digging found grave after grave, showing that Route 37 was built over a potter's field cemetery. The DOT decided to remove the 67 graves' remains found to be in danger of being disturbed by embankment erosion caused by drainage pipes and culverts and water coming off Route 37.

The remains have been stored in a climate-controlled facility at Public Archeology Lab in preparation for the work that started about 8:30 this morning.

The state Veterans Cemetery provided equipment to carry out the digging and re-burials, estimated to take three days. The remains will be re-buried at land at corner of Knight Street and Pontiac Avenue on the Cranston-Warwick line.

Michael Hebert, the Department of Transportation archaeologist who has worked on the investigation of the remains, and Public Archaeology Lab, in Pawtucket, are doing the project.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney, with reports from Journal staff writer Barbara Polichetti

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 1:39 PM | Permalink

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