INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Department of Public Works confirmed human remains were found during utility work last July for the future Henry Street Bridge project over the White River.
The discovery was made public Thursday, Jan. 18.
The project sits next to the $1 billion Eleven Park Development by Keystone Group.
Both projects overlap the former first city cemetery that opened in 1821 called "Greenlawn Cemetery."
Historic preservationists say hundreds, if not thousands, of graves are likely still under those 25 acres of land — many being African American.
"We want these folks treated with respect, and we do want to make sure that they are excavated and not built on top of," said Eunice Trotter, director of the Black Heritage Preservation Program for Indiana Landmarks.
Back in December, Keystone Group confirmed fragments of human remains were also found on the site of the Eleven Park Project.
On Friday, 13News reached out but did not receive an update.
Here's how the latest discovery was found:
Indy DPW said on July 18, 2023, work was done to document multiple buried fiber optic lines at the former Diamond Chain complex.
During this work, an isolated human skeletal element was found by archaeologists inspecting soil in the vacuum truck holding tank. The discovery was determined to be the fourth metacarpal from an adult's right hand.
The Indiana DNR Division of Historic Preservation & Archaeology and Indy DPW were contacted. A deputy with the Marion County Coroner's Office also made a site visit, and The United States Army Corps of Engineers were also contacted.
Next steps
The city announced a Community Advisory Group to provide transparency and accountability during the bridge project. They started communicating in May 2023.
It involves historic preservationists, including Trotter and Leon Bates.
The group will work with the city to help guide how the site's history will be memorialized.
Dr. Jeremy Wilson, the head of the bioarchaeology lab at Indiana University Indianapolis, has also been contracted to work with the city.
"The Department of Public Works has made the commitment to go above and beyond what is required by state law regarding accidental discoveries found during construction of the Henry Street Bridge," Indy DPW Director Brandon Herget said. "By working with the community, we have made significant changes to both our construction practices and how we will report out findings to the community so that the complex story of this site will not be lost to history. And now that we have finalized contracts for an Indiana University Indianapolis laboratory supervised by bioarchaeologists and forensic anthropology professionals, we can begin providing detailed updates regarding the process to our residents."
RELATED: Historic preservationists discuss remains found on site of Indy soccer stadium construction
Some preservationists have called for a full excavation. Instead, Keystone Group and the city decided to halt construction whenever remains are found rather than searching first.
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.
"It is my hope that Keystone Group will join with DPW, CAG and the community in being open and forthcoming with discoveries on their projects at the old Greenlawn Cemetery site," Bates said.
The Henry Street Bridge construction hasn't officially started. Crews are just prepping for it.
The more-than-$20 million project will connect the Cultural Trail to the Elanco Headquarters, where the former GM Stamping Plant once stood.