According to preservationist Eunice Trotter, the city opened a cemetery on the land in 1821.
INDIANAPOLIS — Historic preservationists say hundreds, if not thousands, of graves are likely still under 25 acres of land just a block away from Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis
That's where a developer is building a $1 billion soccer stadium.
The city also has as a project planned on part of that land, too, the west side of it, where the city plans to build a new bridge across the White River, connecting the near west side to downtown.
To look at the weeds growing up through the concrete, you'd never know the history buried beneath the ground on the land in downtown's southwest quadrant, near Kentucky Avenue and the White River.
"We are finding a long, illustrious list of people who were buried there, Black and white," said Eunice Trotter, with Indiana Landmark's Black Heritage Preservation Program.
According to Trotter, the city opened a cemetery on the land in 1821.
"The original cemetery was west of Kentucky (Avenue) and closer to the river for four acres," Trotter said, explaining that research shows Black residents were buried in a separate section just outside of that. "We believe they were buried just outside of the original area, which is closer to the river."
Over the years, the cemetery expanded beyond those four acres and became known as Greenlawn Cemetery.
"The original cemetery had become filled. It was the site of grave robberies and other kinds of vandalism occurring," Trotter said.
Families who could afford to move graves from Greenlawn did so in the 1860s when Crown Hill Cemetery opened.
"People with means could move their loved ones out of that heinous place," Trotter said. "While many people's remains were removed, many, many, many more were left there."
That's why Trotter is not surprised at last week's discovery of human remains, where developer Keystone Group is building the new home of men's and women's professional soccer in Indianapolis. The area will be called Eleven Park.
Renderings of Eleven Park
The stadium, hundreds of apartments, office and retail space, along with restaurants, hotels and greenspace, will sit on the northern part of the 25 acres, where the Diamond Chain Company operated for 100 years before selling the land to Keystone Group.
Diamond Chain hasn't been the only occupants of the area after it was Greenlawn Cemetery.
"We have desecrated that ground with slaughterhouses, railroad tracks, cement, limestone and brick pavement," Trotter said.
At one point, some of the land became an encampment for those without shelter.
"That is the way we've treated our pioneers," Trotter said of the the disrepair she says the 25 acres fell into over the years.
Now, there are new plans for the area, not only with Eleven Park, but the city's Henry Street Bridge project.
"I don't think anyone is saying this isn't a good development. It is. It's going to be a great deal for the city, for that part of town," Trotter said. "The community wants this bridge. However, over the generations as a city, we have neglected that burial ground and those people who were our pioneers. The state knew, the city knew, the developer knew there would be remains found in this cemetery because that's what it was. It was a cemetery."
Trotter said it's also likely more remains will be discovered when the city starts construction on the bridge early next year.
"Many of those remains are the remains of infants," Trotter said.
By state law, when human remains are discovered during construction, work stops in that spot and 100 feet around it so more careful digging can be done.
Because of the scope of both the stadium and bridge projects and the area they cover, "We're going to end up starting and stopping this project over and over," Trotter said.
That's why she said the Black Heritage Preservation Program supports a careful excavation of the land first, before any more work is done on either project.
Trotter said a national expert and an archaeologist who studied the ground with radar thought that was the right move, too.
"His bottom line with his report was there be an archaeological excavation, and that's what we are wanting to see happen," Trotter said. "Our concern is don't use a big backhoe and dig up that ground and within those pans are remains of people we will never see."
These are people who Trotter says are part of this state and country's history — a history she fears will be lost if care is not taken.
"We are all part of the full story of history," Trotter said.
The Keystone Group told 13News in a statement the remains discovered will be properly catalogued, and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources will decide where their final resting place will be. Part of the statement read:
"Keystone Group views these discoveries as an opportunity to correct past mishandlings by previous ownership and to respectfully relocate and honor what may be found. Keystone continues to work with community organizations who look to honor the memory of those who may have been buried at Greenlawn. These discussions are ongoing as the project progresses and an appropriate memorial will be included in project completion."
The city of Indianapolis said its plans for when remains are discovered during the bridge project will go above and beyond what's required by state law. If burials are encountered, the city says they'll be screened off from public view, and the site will be secured. They plan to release a public report that documents what was learned about the history of Indianapolis from the site.
Here's what DNR says must happen when remains are discovered:
"Digging must pause and that an archeological plan be approved before digging can continue. These plans must include a recovery plan for how human remains will be treated if they are discovered during construction; detail how an archeologist will monitor areas with a high probability for burials; detail the field methods for recovery of remains, laboratory processing and analysis, and reporting; and detail commitments for reinterment of remains at another local cemetery. For this project, DNR requested an archeological plan from the developer. Both the cemetery development plan and archaeological monitoring plan have been approved by the DNR. This plan is currently being followed with remains now being recovered and reinterned."
Jan. 2 update
On Jan. 2, a small tent was set up inside the construction site, along with what appeared to be archeologists digging.
13News also learned that Zionsville based company Weintraut & Associates is conducting the research and fieldwork.
Indiana Department of Natural Resources will ensure that all laws are followed.
“When human remains or any artifacts are encountered, we ensure that the contractor’s archaeologist is following the methods outlined in their approved workplan," an Indiana DNR spokesperson said. "Per the approved plan, when human remains are found, mechanical excavation within a 100-foot radius of the discovery is paused. The archaeologists working for the contractor then clear the area, isolate the discovery, and perform controlled excavations to assess whether there are any intact deposits that would contain burials. The surrounding soil is also screened until all human remains and artifacts are recovered."
