Henry Street Bridge Project Excavates Human Remains and Grave Mines – Indianapolis News | Indiana Weather | Indiana Traffic

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Indianapolis Department of Public Works (Indy DPW) today announced that human remains and burial shafts were discovered late last month as crews prepare to relocate utilities and begin excavation for the Henry Street Bridge Project. The discovery was shared with the Henry Street Community Advisory Group (CAG) last week.

“DPW Archaeological Excavation

“Stantek, an Indy DPW archeology consultant, discovered 15 graves at a depth of about three to four feet in preparation for an archaeological dig east of the White River. They also identified a possible footstone as well as a tombstone base for a total of seven parts of the monument.

“In September 2024, Stantec received approval for an archaeological work plan for the Henry Street Bridge project. The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) has approved a work plan that outlines the process of excavating, documenting and recovering human remains and artifacts at Henry. Street in the first place.

“As per the work plan, the construction crew is using a trench stabilization system to safely excavate within Henry Street. When the burial shafts were identified, the team installed a support stabilization system. As the burial shafts were identified at a shallow depth, the fortification work was stopped to allow the exhumation of the identified remains.

“Trained bioarchaeologists and archaeologists will carefully remove the area above and around each grave by hand. When all human remains have been identified, photography and data documentation will be completed, and the remains will be exhumed and sent to Dr. Jeremy Wilson’s lab at Indiana University in Indianapolis for analysis. The discovery of graves and artifacts will give the community more information about those buried there. “One of the many goals of the archaeological team and the CAG is to recover the identity of the people buried in this cemetery and begin to understand their place in the history of the city. The discovery of objects such as slabs with initials is vital to this effort because they give us a starting point for genealogical research. This research, combined with archaeological and osteological data, will bring us closer to realizing this goal,” says Dr. Brooke Drew, an archaeologist on the Stantec team.“

“Throughout the excavation process, which is expected to last until spring 2025, the work areas will be covered by tents. This not only protects the remains and artifacts being excavated, but also preserves the integrity and honor of those buried in the area.

“AES Utility Move

“AES Indiana was preparing to install an underground utility line when its crews discovered human remains. In preparation for horizontal directional drilling, crews opened two shafts north and south of Henry Street.

“During the excavation of the north launch pit, archaeologists from Weintraut & Associates, working in conjunction with Arcadis US and Robinson Trenching, discovered at least two burial shafts, including skeletal remains, buttons, a coffin and coffin fittings. Three graves were also discovered in the southern reception pit. While the examination is ongoing, bones and bone fragments, one coffin nail were found.

“Pursuant to the approved work plan, Weintraut and Associates notified the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Division of Historic Preservation and Archeology of each discovery. All five burials were discovered about four feet below the surface of the ground. Dr. Wilson will also perform human remains analysis for AES.

“AES Indiana is committed to working in partnership with the City of Indianapolis to ensure a proper and responsible excavation process throughout the project,” said Roderick Conwell, AES Indiana Senior Director of Transmission and Distribution Operations.

“Effect of the Henry Street Bridge on Greenlawn Cemetery

“For more than a year, the city authorities met with concerned community representatives regarding the Henry Street Bridge construction site and the approaches to it. Henry Street on the right east of the river occupies part of the city’s first cemetery, a collection of four long-neglected cemeteries often referred to as Greenlawn Cemetery.

“To learn more about the Henry Street Bridge project, visit wridinfrastructure.com/

“To learn more about Indy DPW construction projects, visit indy.gov/DPWprojects.”

Indianapolis Department of Public Works Office of Public Information, November 4, 2024