Campus Renovation Unearths Past

The University of Virginia continues to undergo building and renovation, all par for the course for many universities, but sometimes extenuating circumstances make campus planning more challenging. Back in 1993 during a parking lot expansion, a dozen graves, circa mid-19th century, were discovered. As a result, this summer, in preparation for building additional classroom space, the university commissioned archaeologists from Rivanna Archaeological Services to remove surface soils to identify if additional burials were present?EUR??,,????'??+an additional 18 graves were located. There are no plans to exhume any graves or to build over them. Naturally, the grave sites will alter the construction logistics, reports Mary Hughes, FASLA, the campus landscape architect.

The archaeologists believe Catherine Foster, a free black woman who purchased the land in 1833 and her descendants may be at the first site, although there is no forensic evidence. The second site, it is conjectured, includes members of several different families. It is anticipated that a park will memorialize the grave sites and be incorporated into the building complex replacing New Cabell Hall.

Sources: Daily Progress (Charlottesville, Va. ) and the University of Virginia.