Bones believed to be over 200 years old were discovered during excavation at the site earmarked for the XCD$50 million Booby-Alley Social Housing project in Pointe.

Dr. Reginald Murphy, an archaeologist and historian, confirmed the findings during an investigation prompted by the discovery of skeletal remains in what is believed to be a church graveyard. He was commissioned by the police to test the bones to identify whether they may be the remains of recent missing people or graves of people who died a long time ago when Antigua & Barbuda was a colony.

Of course, based on the rate at which these bones have degenerated they may very well be centuries old, crumbling on contact and too brittle to tell gender or racial types. Lab tests are underway to provide further details, but much of the graveyard has already been disrupted or lost due to years of excavation and backfilling.

The burial ground, tied to the historic Bethel Anglican Church, was likely a resting place for individuals who suffered from illnesses such as leprosy, smallpox, and malaria during the colonial era. He said however it is unlikely that potential health risks are linked to the site and dismissed any immediate health threats, noting that most pathogens would no longer pose a danger due to the site’s age.

Not much is known but the site was likely a formal cemetery, with burials in proper coffins, laid out in rows according to Christian traditions. Dr Murphy notes that much of the burial site appears to have been destroyed. “About 90 to 95 percent of the site is gone. The area has been dug out and backfilled, leaving only soil stains and occasional fragments.”

He said it is likely that many existing homes in Pointe have also been built upon those graves. Although residents have long lived in the vicinity, few seemed aware of the burial ground much less its size and significance.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne said on the weekend that the housing project will not be abandoned but the bones will be gathered and reburied in a mass grave. “They will be very respectful of the dead and rebury them somewhere else.”

Chinese contractors have however already disposed of many of the bones in an unknown location.

Browne acknowledged that there are many sites where burial grounds have been discovered around Antigua including at Lady Nugent east of the Antigua Grammar School (AGS) which was an old military hospital. There are also some at Langfords, Nelson’s Dockyard and along many beaches across the island.

Dr. Murphy highlighted that burial practices and land use in Antigua have often led to graves being built over or forgotten or in some cases cemeteries being reused or relocated. While Antigua typically reclaims graves after seven years, other cultures handle remains differently, such as France’s catacombs system or Mexico’s “Day of the Dead” traditions.

Regardless of what is practiced Dr. Murphy hopes for greater preservation and respect for burial sites and the need for proper documentation and policies to handle burial sites. “This is something Antigua needs to tackle head-on. How we treat our dead reflects on our culture, and more must be done to protect these historical sites,” said Dr. Murphy.

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