Clearwater, Fla. – Crews are continuing excavation work on the North Greenwood Cemetery in Clearwater.

During the process of identifying lost graves from the African-American cemetery, they’re finding new artifacts and data almost every day.

“This is a name plate or a marker plate. This is William Ridley buried in 1951,” said Jeff Moates as he held up the newly uncovered marker. 

A metal name plate which is a type of grave marker. The name on the marker is William Ridley who was buried in 1951 by the Larkin and Gordon Funeral Home. (USF/Carndo, Inc.)

Moates is the Regional Director of the Florida Public Archaeology Network (USF). He, along with other archaeologists from the network and Carndo Inc., have opened up three large areas at the old Curtis Fundamental-Palmetto Elementary School.

“We’re not down to where the coffins or where the actual burials would be, but we’re able to recognize the grave shafts,” he said.

So far, they’ve found more than a dozen graves or grave shafts along with objects and artifacts dating back to 1940 – 1954, when the cemetery was in use.

“The community has this memory oF where their loved ones have been buried, and they’re brinGing that forward. And we’re seeing that across Tampa Bay and across Florida and the nation,” said Erin McKendry with Cardno Inc.

The property owners and the city have not made any decision about what’s next, but for community members, it brings a sense of hope.

“I see proof that their stories from years back have been verified,” said Barbara Love with the Clearwater Heights Remembrance Committee.

“It just tells us this is a sacred place for the community. It can be that again. It always has been, but we can remark the cemetery and bring that sacredness back for the community,” Moates said.

The team expects their work to be finished by next Friday.