Construction of the Henry Street Bridge brought renewed attention to portions of Indianapolis’ historic Old and New Burying Grounds, later known collectively as Greenlawn Cemetery.
Archaeologists documented more than 1,700 burial shafts within the project area, revealing a complex landscape shaped by nineteenth-century burial, earlier relocation efforts, and more than a century of urban development. This talk explores how archaeology, bioarchaeology, historical research, and community collaboration are helping reconstruct the cemetery’s history and the lives of the people buried there, while guiding their respectful care and eventual reburial.