Discovered: Ancient African American Burial Ground Containing 70 Graves Hidden Beneath a Parking Structure in Florida

Discovered: Ancient African American Burial Ground Containing 70 Graves Hidden Beneath a Parking Structure in Florida

In Clearwater Heights, Florida, archaeologists have made a startling discovery beneath a paved parking lot. They have detected around 70 possible graves, believed to be part of a 20th century African American cemetery that was once home to the St. Matthew Missionary Baptist Church's cemetery[1].

The exact number of hidden graves remains unknown, as only a fifth of the two-and-a-half-acre land has been examined so far[1]. This finding marks the fourth instance in the last year of lost black graves being uncovered in the Tampa Bay area.

The company currently occupying the property, FrankCrum, was unaware of the site's history but has been supportive of the investigation into the missing graves[1]. The property has undergone several changes in ownership since its sale by the church, with IMR Global and FrankCrum being among the subsequent owners.

As of July 2025, there are no publicly detailed information about active excavation or full-scale recovery operations underway at this site[1]. However, the focus so far has been on identifying and confirming the extent of the unmarked graves.

The discovery in Clearwater Heights follows other instances of lost African American gravesites in the area, such as those found at Tampa's King High School and an unnamed early-20th century all-black cemetery[1].

The St. Matthew cemetery housed the graves of the neighbourhood's black residents before some graves were moved to Parklawn Memorial Cemetery for African Americans in Dunedin in the 1950s[1]. Similar to the St. Matthew cemetery, unmarked graves were left behind during the transition.

Growing efforts by community advocates and lawmakers aim to search for lost black graves across the country due to America's long history of racism against African Americans[1]. This includes the African-American Burial Grounds Network Act, introduced by Congressional lawmakers in February 2019, which aims to create a national database of historic black cemeteries under the National Park Service[1].

One of the most famous cases of missing black graves is the unmarked burials of the victims of the Tulsa Race Massacre in 1921, where historians estimate 300 black people were killed[1].

As the investigation continues, updates on further plans for excavation, preservation, or memorialization efforts at this cemetery will likely come from local news, archaeological authorities, or heritage preservation groups involved in Florida cemetery investigations.

[1] Sources: Archaeology reports, local news, and historical records.

1. Politics has prompted growing efforts by community advocates and lawmakers to search for lost black graves across the country.
2. One of the most notable instances of this is the unmarked burials of victims from the Tulsa Race Massacre in 1921.
3. In Clearwater Heights, Florida, archaeologists have discovered around 70 possible graves, believed to be part of a 20th century African American cemetery.
4. The St. Matthew cemetery housed the graves of the neighborhood's black residents before some graves were moved to Parklawn Memorial Cemetery.
5. Unmarked graves were left behind during the transition, similar to the St. Matthew cemetery case.
6. This finding marks the fourth instance in the last year of lost black graves being uncovered in the Tampa Bay area.
7. The property where the discovery was made is currently occupied by the company FrankCrum, which was unaware of the site's history but has been supportive of the investigation.
8. The exact number of hidden graves remains unknown, as only a fifth of the two-and-a-half-acre land has been examined so far.
9. The property has undergone several changes in ownership since its sale by the church, with IMR Global and FrankCrum being among the subsequent owners.
10. As of July 2025, there are no publicly detailed information about active excavation or full-scale recovery operations underway at this site.
11. The focus so far has been on identifying and confirming the extent of the unmarked graves.
12. Similar situations have been found at Tampa's King High School and an unnamed early-20th century all-black cemetery.
13. The African-American Burial Grounds Network Act, introduced by Congressional lawmakers in February 2019, aims to create a national database of historic black cemeteries under the National Park Service.
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