New digital map documents and strengthens protection of threatened Black burial sites
MEDIA CONTACT: SAM SPENCE
Two hundred burial grounds across the city of Charleston have been researched and documented as part of a new digital map created to identify threatened gravesites associated with African descendant communities and strengthen protections for these sacred places as the region grows.
The culmination of two years of community engagement, the Mapping Charleston’s Black Burial Grounds Project aims to raise public awareness of Black burial grounds and serve as a catalyst for further research and more responsible land use planning.
This project is made possible by the National Park Service African American Civil Rights Grant program with institutional support led by the Preservation Society of Charleston and Anson Street African Burial Ground Project.
Accessing the map via preservationsociety.org, users will see 200 known or probable burial locations within the study area, both marked and unmarked. Each site includes detailed documentation, including current and historical photos, maps and plats, and relevant sources for further research.
While this map is intended to be inclusive of all burial sites in the City of Charleston, the purpose of the project is to convey the extensive, historical presence of burial grounds associated with African descendant communities, which face additional threats. This project revealed that more than 75% of burial grounds citywide are likely the final resting places of Black Charlestonians.
This resource would not have been possible without valuable guidance and input from descendants and residents across the city that shaped the research and outreach process.
“The launch of this new digital mapping tool was made possible through the extraordinary efforts of Charlestonians who have stewarded these sacred spaces for generations. It speaks volumes that our city is a pioneer nationally in creating this mapping tool and we look forward to working with other community groups to replicate its success far beyond our boundaries,” said Brian Turner, President & CEO of the Preservation Society of Charleston.
BACKGROUND
Several high-profile incidents over the past decade spurred a community conversation around the need for additional protection for gravesites, especially in urban Charleston. To that end, a 2021 gravesite protection ordinance adopted by the City of Charleston extended basic state-level protections for human remains, establishing a local process to prevent development impacts. Building on work by community members and city leaders, this map is a logical next step to educate the public on the presence of burial grounds and make the ordinance easier to enforce.
Reflecting on events that catalyzed this project, La’Sheia Oubre and Joanna Gilmore of the Anson Street African Burial Ground Project (ASABG) shared: “In 2020, the sale of a residential property downtown that was once the site of two African American cemeteries initiated a conversation between the Preservation Society and the Gullah Society, Inc. (now ASABG). The lack of recognition and protection for these sacred sites solidified the urgent need for mapping and planning tools that would enable the city, developers, and community members to value and honor these significant sites of remembrance.”
WHAT’S NEXT
The Mapping Charleston’s Black Burial Grounds Project represents the centralization of information previously distributed among public and private sources, making it a powerful tool for land use planning.
“This is an incredibly important project that will generate valuable information to guide the city’s future and inform our evaluations of upcoming projects. It’s an essential part of Charleston’s history,” said Tim Keane, chief of the City of Charleston’s Planning, Permitting, & Engineering section.
Preservation Society staff is working with the City of Charleston Department of Planning and Preservation to determine how to best use and maintain this valuable resource in the public interest.
ABOUT THE PRESERVATION SOCIETY OF CHARLESTON
Founded in 1920, the Preservation Society of Charleston (PSC) is the oldest grassroots preservation organization in the nation. The PSC is more resilient than ever as it enters its second century of recognizing, protecting, and advocating for the Lowcountry’s historic places, while serving as a strong advocacy leader for citizens concerned about preserving Charleston’s distinctive character, quality of life, and diverse neighborhoods. For more information on the Preservation Society of Charleston, please visit preservationsociety.org.
ABOUT THE ANSON STREET AFRICAN BURIAL GROUND PROJECT
The Anson Street African Burial Ground Project (ASAGB) is a multidisciplinary team of researchers and educators working with communities to share, preserve and protect African descendant burial grounds. Through historical, anthropological, archaeological, genetic, and genealogical research, ASABG creates opportunities for individuals and communities to engage in important conversations related to African-descendant lives, racial justice and equity. For more information on the Anson Street African Burial Ground Project, please visit asabgproject.com.