Mapping the Historic Period Cemeteries of New York City

Elizabeth D. Meade, AKRF, Inc.

Hundreds of cemeteries were established throughout New York City between the 17th and 20th centuries. As a result of urban development, many of these former burial sites were redeveloped, often without the removal of graves. As such, the disturbance of human remains during construction is a common occurrence in New York City. This paper will discuss a comprehensive archaeological research project that identified and mapped more than 525 current and former cemeteries throughout the five boroughs. Following more than a decade of intensive documentary research, individual cemetery locations were mapped using a variety of historical documents, including historical maps, property conveyances, wills, and other records. The information collected from historical records was combined with modern GIS tools to recreate the historical boundaries of cemeteries and map them relative to the city's modern landscape. The map not only identifies those locations that are potentially sensitive for human remains, but it it also provides new insight into the historical "deathscape" of New York City and shows how the living and the dead shared space throughout the city's history.

No extended abstract or paper available

 Presented in Session 173. GIS and Archaeology of New York City