1921 Graves Excavation Tulsa Update For June 9

Press release from City of Tulsa:

June 11, 2021

The formal exhumation process at Oaklawn Cemetery has begun as crews continue to work carefully to uncover burials and safely transport remains to the on-site lab for analysis.

Exhumed remains are being placed in cardboard cremation boxes, covered in a black drape, and formally carried by members of the 1921 Graves Public Oversight Committee and 1921 Graves Physical Investigation Committee to the on-site lab.

Once inside, remains are thoroughly analyzed by University of Florida Forensic Anthropologist Phoebe Stubblefield.

An update with 1921 Graves Public Oversight Committee Chair Kavin Ross on the formal exhumation process, where remains are being walked in procession to the on-site laboratory, is now live on the 1921 Graves Facebook page, @1921Graves.

To date, a total of 27 burials have been found within the mass grave feature. Crews from Cardno are on site and assisting in the formal exhumation process.

For the latest news and information on the 1921 Graves Investigation, including photographs and drone video from inside Oaklawn Cemetery, visit www.cityoftulsa.org/1921Graves and follow 1921 Graves on Facebook.

This press release was produced by the City of Tulsa. The views expressed here are the author’s own.