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How is a Cemetery Relocated? |
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Written by DeadGirl
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Friday, 06 January 2006 |
Let the dead rest in peace...
"If the federal court allows Chicago to dig up and move the 1,300 graves at St. Johannes, how would it be done?"
BY PATRICK CORCORAN
STAFF WRITER
"We're very, very careful," said Leiellen Atz, a Southern Illinois University-trained anthropologist and who manages cemetery relocation projects with Georgia-based Brockington Cultural Resources.
"We try to be as respectful and thoughtful as possible because we are cognizant of the fact that these are human beings with family and friends."
Her tools include old maps, ground penetrating radar, aerial photography, but Atz generally finds graves another way -- by feel.
Since many graves are unmarked and others have gravestones that have disintegrated or broken a part, Atz and her co-workers first use a long probe fitted with t-shaped handle, to survey and map the excavation area.
"Since the ground was dug and then refilled, it is generally quite a bit softer than the ground around it. Depending on how much traffic there has been in the area and how rocky or sandy the soil is, it is fairly easy to identify the primary shaft -- which has a large rectangular shape -- and even the secondary shaft -- which is a smaller rectangular shape that feels like a ledge. That's where the coffin is," she said.
A backhoe is then used to clear the first two or three feet of soil covering each grave. The rest of the work is done by hand, Atz said.
"What we see then is usually a nice, rectangular dark stain. That shows you the grave shaft. In most cases, we would excavate down from there using a trowel until I penetrate the coffin level. After that, we photograph the remains for our records and carefully remove what we can depending on how much of the skeletal remains are still left," she said.
For the most delicate part of the job Atz employs an unusual tool -- one generally used to eating.
"I use chopsticks. Bamboo is durable enough to dig with, but it's doesn't scratch the bones like metal would. They're also easy to find," she said.
The remains are placed into a small, 12-inch-by-15-inch box.
What does Atz find? Mostly dirt.
"There's usually nothing left. Maybe a few teeth. In most cases, all we can tell is if the person buried there was an adult or a child and we can tell that based on the size of the coffin," she said. On some occasions, there are also personal items buried with the dead.
"It's very surprising, but we don't find much except for an occasional clothing item, like a button. I found a pocket watch once, but, like I said, it's very rare. In some instances, we've found a small metal plaque that reads, 'At rest,' that was probably affixed to the coffin. A few times, we've found people buried with sheaves of wheat. I'm not really sure of the significance of that, but I think it may be a religious practice."
Brockington Cultural Resources has not been contracted by the city to relocate St. Johannes. However, the company has been involved in numerous similar -- albeit smaller -- cemetery relocation projects in Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky among other states. On average, Atz oversees two to three projects a year. In her experience, Atz has not run into opposition from family members. In fact, in most cases, relatives are pleased to see that their ancestors are being relocated instead of buried under a road or other new construction, she said.
http://www.pioneerlocal.com/cgi-bin/ppo-story/localnews/current/sc/01-05-06-793486.html
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