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Taphophilia (dot) Com...
A repository of morbid curiosities:
Thanatology and Taphophile Issues, Cemetery,
Funeral Industry and Death Related News.
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Is lot an Indian burial ground? Developer says no; opponents want studies |
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Written by DeadGirl
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Monday, 07 August 2006 |
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By: Jay Pateakos, Herald News Staff Reporter 08/07/2006 SWANSEA, MA - An Indian historic preservation group is investigating a claim that an area near Raymond Allard Boulevard, which is being extended for a subdivision, is the site of an Indian burial ground.
Narragansett Indian Tribal Historic Preservation Officer Doug Harris said a caller, whom he identified only as "a concerned citizen," cited a 1953 Herald News article that reported the discovery of four skeletons made by children digging in sand off Pond Street, just west of Raymond Allard Boulevard.
The Aug. 27, 1953, article states that the bones were found "in a heavily overgrown section between Pond Street and Church Street." A part of Raymond Allard Boulevard lies between Pond Street and Church Street.
The bones were reinterred at Mount Hope Cemetery. No determination of the bones' origins was ever made, however, according to the Narragansett Indian Tribe.
Opponents are calling for a cease and desist order. But the project's owner, citing the lack of any further discoveries and backed by the town's approval, is continuing with construction.
Diane St. Laurent of Swansea says she was the one who found the bones, though her parents forbid her name to be used in the 1953 newspaper article. She said memories of the discovery came rushing back when her friend, Jay Moss, talked with her about the construction going on off Raymond Allard Boulevard.
"We started to dig that day because we were trying to make a fort," said St. Laurent, who was 9 at the time. "We came across these bones, that seemed like dog bones. But these were little bones, lined down straight in a row with a small head and no teeth."
The burial grounds issue arose about two years ago in the developer's meetings with the town, but the project was sent through, despite opponents' pleas for further studies.
Susan Moss, of 68 Raymond Allard Boulevard, addressed the Planning Board on Sept. 20, 2004, about the 1953 discovery and the fact that the state archaeologist and the Massachusetts Historical Commission had been contacted about the issue. Moss claimed that the information proved the land "should not and cannot be developed," according to the board's minutes.
Two weeks later, Brona Simon, state archeologist and deputy historic preservation officer for the Massachusetts Historical Commission, strongly advised that the developer - Raymond Allard Boulevard extension project owner Frank T. Donaldson, of Gardners Realty Nominee Trust - conduct an archaeological survey of the proposed subdivision, in light of the 1953 discovery.
But Donaldson said his property off Raymond Allard Boulevard "was not properly identified in Ms. Moss's plans to the Mass. Historical Commission." He said no more bones have been found during the extensive work on the site since.
"We have excavated 20 to 30 perc tests on the site and went through substantial wildlife studies and had wildlife consultants walk through the property," Donaldson said.
Harris met with Town Planner Steve Antinelli on Friday and said that with no documentation of any archaeological study being conducted on the site, a cease and desist order should be made until one is done, but construction on the site continued Friday, according to Donaldson.
"Nothing pushes tribal buttons quicker than the sacrilege of their burial ground," Harris said. "According to Narragansett oral history of this community, there are Indian burial grounds in this area and we need to confirm that with the archaeological survey."
Harris questioned whether the Planning Board could stop the project until a survey was conducted, but an Oct. 12, 2004, letter from Town Counsel Arthur Frank Jr. states that the Planning Board can't reject a subdivision plan already approved by other town boards. Frank said that once the developer discovers unmarked human burial or skeletal remains, they will get the state involved.
"The Swansea citizens and town leadership must decide if they want to be known as a town that allows developers to bulldoze and backhoe known Indian burial grounds against strongly worded orders by the state archeologist over a federally recognized Indian tribe," Harris said. "It is deeply concerning that Swansea may be willing to withstand the culpability lawsuit and national publicity that this federally recognized tribe will be forced to bring on behalf of this treatment of our ancestors."
Jim Thacker, owner of the first and only property built on the Raymond Allard Boulevard extension project, asked why these questions weren't asked when the Cotton Court development, one street away from Raymond Allard Boulevard, was built.
"Before our construction began, we gave the Wampanoag Indian Tribe 21 days to appeal, and nothing ever came of this," Thacker said.
Harris said the town was asked to issue a cease and desist order on the project last Wednesday until everything can be sorted out on both sides.
"On Monday (today), we will ask again for a cease and desist until we find that common ground," Harris said.
http://www.heraldnews.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17021728&BRD=1710&PAG=461&dept_id=99784&rfi=6 |
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Taphophilia?
taphophilia (taf′ō-fil′ē-ă)
ORIGIN:
From the Greek words taphos, meaning "tomb" or "sepulcher" and philia, meaning "attraction or affinity to something, in particular the love or obsession with something"
DEFINITION: 1. An excessive interest in graves and cemeteries. 2. A love or fondness for funerals, graves, and cemeteries. 3. In psychiatry, a morbid attraction to graves and cemeteries
Quote Repository
“I shall die, but that is all that I shall do for Death.” Edna St. Vincent Millay from <
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