JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – An archaeological team searched for unmarked graves to identify how many black veterans are buried in the Historic St. Nicholas Bethel Baptist Cemetery.
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The Florida Public Archaeology Network (FPAN) is spearheading the search using ground penetrating technology.
It will help identify the final resting place for military members like Sean Holland who served in the United States Air Force decades ago.
“The long-term goal is to come back, and restore this cemetery and give the families closure, to let the community know there’s history in this community, our generations to come can live on,” Veronica Kight, a church member said.
Pastor Carl Patterson and Kight spearheaded the efforts to renovate the property.
“This is a form of us giving back to our community and those who have served us as well,” Patterson said.
Before the restoration began last year, the sacred ground was overgrown with trees, shrubs and littered with trash.
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The volunteers who helped clean up said they think they identified at least 25 gravesites.
Archaeologists said they will soon be able to confirm the exact number of veterans buried there and where the caskets are.
“Today is a glorious day, a long time coming,” Sarah Miller, Director of the FPAN said.
Miller said the neglect of African American cemeteries is a problem that goes back 450 years in Florida.
The conditions of cemeteries like St. Nicholas Bethel Baptist in the Southeast region of the U.S. are problems that states have yet to handle.
“It’s a real issue now, we know in the state of Florida that there are data gaps, there should be about 8,000 cemeteries, but we only know where 2,000 are located but we can’t manage what we don’t know,” Miller said.
Archaeologists gave insight into the process they’re using to locate grave sites.
“If we hit a modern casket, it’s going to be concrete and in the sand and in the density so the travel time of the radar going through the sand is quick, but the travel time through the concrete will take longer since it’s a dense material,” one of the archeologists said.
Archaeologists said the research is rewarding and it gives community members the answers they need, and the respect the veterans deserve.
“I just ask we pull together as a community, to make sure we are doing all we have to do, not just this one, but there are many sites that need to be brought to the forefront so we can honor all the veterans who fought and served for this country,” Patterson said.
News4JAX is waiting to hear back from the archaeologists to learn how many gravesites they uncovered on Wednesday.
The St. Nicholas Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery was recently designated as a historical location by the City of Jacksonville.
If you know of a burial ground that needs research, FPAN urges you to contact them, saying that state grants are available to fund the discovery of state cemeteries.