The Georgia Department of Transportation is working with archeologists to move a cemetery dating from the 1800’s.
The DOT began removing remains from the cemetery in 2008 when they discovered it during a road widening project in Bibb County. At first a team of archeologists identified 39 bodies. Now they say there are over 100.
J.W. Joseph with New South Associates is the project manager. He says they’ve located descendants from some families believed buried there. That should help them make accurate identifications.
“We will be doing at later stages a DNA analysis of the skeletal remains as well as DNA analysis of potential family members from the descendant communities.”
Artifacts exhumed show the graves likely belonged to African-American tenant farmers from the late 1800’s to early 1900’s. The DOT is negotiating with local churches to help relocate the remains.

Tags: Georgia Department of Transportation, Avondale Burial Place, New South Associates, J.W. Joseph