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SAVANNAH, Ga. () — The City of Savannah has received a conclusive report from The LAMAR Institute based on a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) survey carried out at Whitefield Square in December 2025.
Ground Penetrating Radar is a non-invasive archaeological method that uses radar waves to identify underground anomalies without disrupting the soil.
This survey was conducted in preparation for placing a historical marker at the square, acknowledging its past as a burial site historically referred to as the “Negro Burial Ground,” which was actively used from around 1763 until 1844.
“This square is more than just open space. It is hallowed ground,” stated Mayor Van R. Johnson II. “For generations, both enslaved individuals and free people of color in Savannah were interred here. Their lives had significance, and their narratives are vital. Recognizing this history isn’t optional — it’s essential. We are devoted to honoring this chapter of our city’s past with dignity, transparency, and respect.”
The final findings, delivered in January, indicated that it is improbable all remains from the burial ground were moved before Whitefield Square was developed in the 1850s.
The report identified:
- More than 80 potential burial anomalies within Whitefield Square
- Two probable burial clusters, where the exact number of potential graves could not be determined
The majority of the anomalies are likely either intact human burials or empty burial shafts where remains were removed and relocated in the mid-19th century.
“To make the most of our future as a city, we must always work to better understand our past,” said City Manager Jay Melder. “These findings are an example of Savannah’s unwavering commitment to fully understanding our history, and to ensure we honor and mark that history appropriately. We must also—whenever possible—commit ourselves to making right today what we did not or could not make right back then. That commitment requires careful research, thoughtful engagement, and action grounded in respect.”
The report notes that only extensive archaeological excavation could definitively determine whether these anomalies represent intact burials or previously relocated graves.
Given the findings, City Staff recommends the following:
- Whitefield Square will be treated similarly to Colonial Park Cemetery — as an inactive and historic burial ground that also serves as a passive greenspace
- The city move erect an appropriate marker or memorial through its Historical Marker Program
- The city convene an advisory group, facilitated by the Archives & History Officer, to prepare a recommendation for City Council.
The Park & Tree Department will also conduct a similar GPR survey in Taylor Square to confirm that the historic “Strangers Burial Ground” (also known as Potter’s Field), active from 1819–1844, did not extend into the area later developed as this square.