Savannah Square Confirmed as Historic Burial Site
Researchers confirmed that Whitefield Square in Savannah is the burial site of both free and enslaved people of color. The discovery underscores the importance of preserving and interpreting historic sites that bear witness to diverse American histories. This confirmation adds significant historical weight to the downtown Savannah location and raises questions about appropriate commemoration.
A ground-penetrating radar survey in December 2025 revealed more than 80 potential burial anomalies and two probable burial clusters within the square. The majority of these are likely intact human burials or empty shafts from where remains were relocated in the mid-19th century. Historically known as the "Negro Burial Ground," the site served as the public cemetery for both enslaved and free people of color from around 1763 until it was closed due to overcrowding in 1844. The city established Whitefield Square on a portion of this land in 1851. In 1855, the Savannah City Council authorized the removal of remains from the burial ground to Laurel Grove Cemetery. However, historical records are unclear about whether all the remains were actually relocated, a suspicion long held by community members and now supported by the recent findings. Among those originally interred at the site were prominent figures in the Black community, including Andrew Bryan, founder of the First African Baptist Church, and Henry Cunningham, the first minister of the Second African Baptist Church. The city plans to treat Whitefield Square as an inactive and historic burial ground, similar to the city's Colonial Park Cemetery. Future plans include the installation of a historical marker or memorial to properly honor those buried there. An advisory committee has been formed to guide the commemoration efforts, with a focus on including historians of African American and Gullah Geechee culture to ensure the story of the sacred ground is told accurately and respectfully.
