How digital archaeology is uncovering the forgotten burial grounds of African American communities
In short: Dr. Jason T. Herrmann explores how modern archaeological techniques are being used to document and restore neglected African American cemeteries in Pennsylvania. This lecture highlights the intersection of digital research and social justice, showing how students are working to preserve landscapes that were erased by systemic inequality.
Since 2019, students at the Penn Museum have utilized digital archaeology to map and reconstruct lost burial sites. These spaces serve as physical evidence of historical injustices and the intentional severing of generational memory. By applying geographic information science, remote sensing, and geophysics, researchers can identify these hidden landscapes and confront the legacies of past policies.
Dr. Jason T. Herrmann, the Kowalski Family Teaching Specialist for Digital Archaeology, leads this work. His expertise in how human activity transforms environments allows for a deeper understanding of settlement patterns. This project-based approach demonstrates how academic research can actively address historical wrongs and protect vulnerable cultural heritage.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Archaeology’s Role in Protecting African American Burial Spaces
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