African Burial Grounds

New York City

Clarification

Most press stories regarding the African Burial Ground in New York city perpetuate the modern urban myth that this landmark was found by construction workers. That is not true.

Newspapers and press releases generally state that “The burial ground lay forgotten until workers uncovered it while excavating for a new federal building in 1991.” Although they were workers, they were working archaeologists. The African Burial Grounds were found by a carefully researched archaeological investigation developed by archaeologist Edward S. Rutsch. Rutsch knew of the importance of their findings (he often said "This is the 'Plymouth Rock' for American Blacks”) and, with others, he fought hard for its preservation. The fact that this site has been preserved and is known today is due to archaeology, not to accident.