Archaeologists Find Remains from Tulsa Race Massacre

In a significant development in the ongoing search for victims of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, a third set of remains with a gunshot wound has been discovered at Oaklawn Cemetery. Oklahoma State archaeologist Kary Stackelbeck confirmed that these remains are part of three sets exhumed during the latest investigation, which focuses on an area believed to contain the graves of 18 Black men killed in the tragic event. The remains are currently undergoing analysis at a forensic lab. This discovery follows the identification of previously exhumed remains belonging to C.L. Daniel, a World War I veteran. While no gunshot wound was found in Daniel's remains, forensic anthropologist Phoebe Stubblefield noted that the fragmented condition of the remains made it impossible to determine a definitive cause of death. The current search has revealed 40 graves that align with historical accounts of how massacre victims were buried, including details from newspaper articles and funeral records. Stackelbeck emphasized that the three newly discovered individuals were interred in adult-sized wooden caskets, which have now been removed for further examination. Previous searches have uncovered over 120 sets of remains, with efforts ongoing to identify them through forensic analysis. In a related initiative, Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum and City Councilor Vanessa Hall-Harper announced the formation of a new committee aimed at exploring reparations for survivors and descendants of the massacre, as well as addressing the needs of the north Tulsa community affected by the events of 1921.