The Oklahoma state archeologist disclosed Monday the discovery of 17 more adult burials at an excavation site at Oaklawn Cemetery as part of Tulsa's efforts to identify unidentified victims of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.
The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre was committed by a violent White gang who targeted Black citizens and devastated Tulsa's Greenwood area, a booming Black industrial hub.
Years later, the city is still investigating the events of the bloodbath. The Tulsa Historical Society and Museum said there were as many as 300 individuals killed and over a thousand houses wrecked, according to CNN.
According to the city, 26 death certificates were issued in 1921 for Black victims of the Tulsa Massacre, and 21 were interred in Oaklawn Cemetery.
Investigation Efforts Intensified
Following the success of last year's cemetery excavation, which resulted in 19 exhumations, a new round of digging began on October 26 this year, as reported in the latest investigative update, Tulsa World reported.
According to Oklahoma State Archaeologist Kary Stackelbeck, 17 adult graves were uncovered.
Stackelbeck updated her Facebook page with the news that hand excavation had begun around the caskets to assist select which bones would be suitable for exhumation and analysis in a forensics lab.
The city has also announced that a forensics team will be present to help gather workable DNA samples.
Stackelbeck underscored that they are working on every phase of the process as cautiously as possible.
"And so we're also anticipating having members of the Public Oversight Committee who are going to help us with the process of transporting remains from the excavation area to the forensics lab," the expert remarked, as reported by 2News Oklahoma.
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According to the city website, the Public Oversight Committee comprises descendants and prominent Black personalities from the Tulsa neighborhood, who offer guidance to the city during its investigation.
She explained that scientists are interested in identifying the coffins' building method, form, and whether or not any equipment was left behind.
Stackelbeck explained that this would be done as part of the procedure by which the team would decide which remains from the Tulsa Race Massacre would be exhumed and which would be left where they were.
Seven additional DNA samples were collected last week as part of the work done at the original excavation site.
A Productive Effort For Tulsa City
On Monday, researchers in fluorescent vests removed buckets of dirt from the pit where the 12 coffins were discovered on Friday and brought them to a neighboring workspace, where it was sifted.
Stackelbeck claims that they widened their gravesite excavation. Researchers uncovered 17 graves, including 16 that were completely visible and one that was just partially visible.
The presumed victims of the Tulsa Massacre, who are buried at Oaklawn, will be exhumed, and their remains will be transported to a laboratory for further testing and comparison with historical records and reports.
The second time that an excavation has been conducted to investigate unmarked graves, it has been fruitful. This winter, researchers are still trying to identify the 19 bodies found after the initial excavation last summer.
Tulsa Race Massacre grave exhumation is set to conclude by November 18.
When attempting to identify the remains of potential victims, per NPR, Intermountain Forensics is looking for people who believe they are descendants of massacre victims to donate genetic samples.
Follow 1921 Graves' Facebook page for excavation updates.
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