Tunya Smith: Mapping Unmarked Burial Sites in North Carolina \ 7-31-2024

WPTF Afternoon News by WPTF FM 92.9 AM 680

Episode notes

North Carolina Department of Transportation and N.C. State University have partnered to map unmarked burial sites belonging to historically marginalized groups. Unmarked burial sites have been at risk as the state's population keeps growing, leading to commercial and residential development. Experts are also concerned that more frequent storms could make it more difficult to identify and preserve these burial sites. The research project will focus on identifying and mapping Indigenous burial sites, graves of formerly enslaved individuals, and historic African American cemeteries. Tunya Smith, the Director of the N.C. Department of Transportation’s Office of Civil Rights, joined Jeff Hamlin on the WPTF Afternoon News to discuss this project.

Keywords
WPTF Afternoon NewsUnmarked Burial SitesHistoric Cemeteries North CarolinaIndigenous Burial Sites NCAfrican American CemeteriesN.C. State University Burial Sites MappingTunya Smith NC DOTBurial Sites PreservationNC Historic Graves ProjectStorm Impact on Burial Sites