The New York African Burial Ground so far has yielded a little over 400 skeletal remains, with thousands more yet to be unearthed. The bones are those of Africans who lived around the region during during the 17th century. Those who came to research and analyze the remains could learn much about what they meant and the conditions the Africans lived in. Things such as origins, physical quality of life, biological and cultural transformation, and modes of resistance were determined just by examining the bones.
One of the things observed about the bodies were tell-tale signs of slavery. Broken bones and things of that nature could easily be explained as resistance or torture at the hands of slave owners. Also, rites of passage and points of origin could be observed by looking at the skeletons. One rite of passage among the Africans was the shaving of teeth, and dental patterns were preserved over the span of hundreds of years.
The monument is a stepping stone towards learning more about our history. It is amazing that such a discovery was made and that so much information can be derived from the remains of people who lived hundreds of years ago. It would be a powerful moment to visit the burial site of my ancestors. I believe Howard University was chosen to take part in the excavation and research of the Burial Ground because of the high quality of work that the university consistently yields. Howard is known for using its knowledge of the past to serve the Black community. It makes me proud to be a student here and it also makes me wish I could have been a part of the research process.
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