Respect and sensitivity guide our project to relocate and recreate an historic cemetery
Relocating a cemetery requires sensitivity above all. We approached this task with the knowledge that utmost care must be applied to every step of the process to preserve the integrity of remains, markers, and other infrastructure. This is exactly what our Cultural Resources team did to relocate a historic cemetery adjacent to the Indianapolis International Airport.
When it became apparent that essential infrastructure improvements to the airport would encroach on the cemetery, the decision was made to relocate it to a portion of nearby Concordia Cemetery. This required extensive consultation with the client, various agencies, stakeholders, and descendant family members. For each of the 543 burial sites, we conducted geophysical surveys, archival research, and a detailed analysis of skeletal material and associated artifacts.
At its new site, the historic cemetery has been faithfully re-created. A rededication ceremony, included tributes for all the transferred remains, several of which belonged to veterans of the U.S. Civil War and the War of 1812. For its commitment to respectful relocation of the cemetery with proper consideration given to all parties, the Indianapolis Airport Authority was named the winner of the Indiana Cemetery Award
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