Recently, the Andrew Jackson Foundation made a significant discovery at The Hermitage, the Tennessee plantation of President Andrew Jackson. After years of being lost to time, the foundation believes they have located the slave cemetery where at least 26 enslaved individuals were laid to rest between 1804 and 1865.
The search for the cemetery was guided by an old agricultural report from the 1930s, which hinted at an area with tall trees and graves that had not been cultivated. With the assistance of an anonymous donor, archaeologist James Greene conducted a thorough investigation that led to the identification of the burial site.
Ground-penetrating radar and a careful excavation confirmed the presence of at least 28 bodies near a creek, about 1000 feet northwest of the mansion. The graves are aligned in three north-south rows, with most of the gravestones now sunken below the surface.
For Tony Guzzi, chief of preservation and site operations, the discovery holds both excitement and solemnity. He envisions the cemetery as a reflective and contemplative space that adds a tangible connection to the history of slavery at The Hermitage.
As one of the early U.S. presidents who owned slaves, Andrew Jackson's legacy is intertwined with the stories of the enslaved individuals who lived and worked on his plantation. The Hermitage already features some of the cabins where enslaved people resided, but the newly discovered cemetery provides a more personal and poignant link to the past.
Looking ahead, The Hermitage plans to incorporate the cemetery into its tours, although visitors will not be allowed inside initially. The foundation is also committed to a more inclusive process for deciding on appropriate ways to memorialize and commemorate the individuals buried at the site.
By involving historians and descendants of the enslaved community at The Hermitage, the foundation aims to honor the memory of those who contributed to the plantation's history. The discovery of the slave cemetery underscores the importance of acknowledging and preserving the stories of all individuals, enslaved and free, who played a role in shaping the nation's early years.
