To what extent slavery- aDNA of AFRAM slaves – Georgia 1800

[djoser-xyyman]

Origins of an Unmarked Georgia Cemetery Using Ancient DNA Analysis - Andrew T. Ozga Nov2015


Abstract
Determining the origins of those buried within undocumented cemeteries is of incredible importance to historical archaeologists and in many cases, the nearby communities. In the case of Avondale Burial Place, a cemetery in Bibb County, Georgia, in use from 1820 to 1950, all written documentation of those interred within it has been lost. Osteological and archaeological evidence alone could not describe, with confidence, the ancestral origins of the 101 individuals buried there. In the present study, we utilize ancient DNA extraction methods to investigate the origins of Avondale Burial Place through the use of well-preserved skeletal fragments from 20 individuals buried in the cemetery. Through examination of hypervariable region I in the mitochondrial genome (HVR1, mtDNA), we determine haplotypes for all 20 of these individuals. A total of 18 of the 20 individuals belong to the L or U haplogroups, suggesting that Avondale Burial Place was most likely used primarily as a resting place for African Americans. After the surrounding Bibb County community expressed interest in investigating potential ancestral relationships to those within the cemetery, a total of eight potential descendants provided saliva in order to obtain mtDNA HVR1 information. This phase of the study revealed that two different individuals from Avondale Burial Place matched two individuals with oral history ties to the cemetery. Using the online tool EMPOP, we calculated the likelihood of these exact matches occurring by chance alone (<1%). The present findings exhibit the importance of genetic analysis of cemetery origins when archaeological and


Archaeological evidence suggests Avondale Burial Place was used by African Americans between the 1820 and 1950 with the greatest component of the assemblage likely deposited after the Civil War (Matternes et al. 2012). A concentration of graves was present in the central portion of the complex with later period graves radiating outward. These simple, undecorated coffins with few to any accouterments suggested the Avondale Burial Place had its beginnings as a slave cemetery (Matternes et al. 2012). The graves were all oriented east-west, a common practice of both European-Christian and African-influenced burials. In the case of European-Christians, burials are usually positioned in an east-west alignment with the head facing west in order to allow the dead to face Jesus on his arrival; it is also symbolically attached to rebirth (Milbauer 1989). EARLY African burials in the U.S. are oriented in the same east-west direction but were intended to synchronize the dead with the structure of the universe (Genovese 1972; Pollitzer 1999). Other features, including vaulted graves and the use of hexagonal coffins are shared among other African American cemeteries within the Southern United States (Matternes et al. 2012).

[djoser-xyyman]

Within the graves, pierced silver coins (Figure 2a) and seed bead necklaces were used as charms, designed to improve health and protect the wearer from magic (Capozzoli 1997; Crist et al. 2000; Davidson 2004; Evans et al. 1969; Puckett 1926; Stine et al. 2000). Beads are considered important personal artefacts within African American interments but many within Avondale Burial Place were shattered by post-depositional forces prior to recovery and thus the total amount could not be properly estimated. White, blue, black, and clear beads were identified from four interments and were between 1.5 to 2.0 millimeters in diameter (Figure 2b). Additionally, a sheet copper pendant depicting a crescent moon and a star may have reflected African-based Islamic ideas within the community. Stars are commonly viewed as human souls while the crescent moon symbolizes the beginning of a new life after crossing the Kalunga line into the world of the dead (Puckett 1926; Thompson 1984; Thompson and Cornett 1981) (Figure 2c). Gomez (2011) has demonstrated that pre-emancipation Muslim traditions were a part of African American heritage.


Personal items including combs, dolls, tobacco pipes, purses, jewelry, and wedding bands, were placed with the dead to prevent the spirit from returning to their former homes, searching for things they needed in the next world (Fenn 1985; Matternes et al. 2010; Roedinger

[djoser-xyyman]

So why did I post this? Why is it of interest to me? A few things.

1. Grave goods is as African as can be even as with the Ancient Egyptians.
2. Muslim based Africans slaves were also present. “Roots”
3. The East-West orientation is also an African concept. I always assumed it was European Christian(being brought of as a Catholic)
4. Back to my forte, interestingly the mtDNA haplogropu seesm atypical of West African slavery. 2 were hg-H , and many were L3s, There was even an U6a.
5. Also interesting is that the “Caucasian” ascribed morphology do match the DNA.

The story being told here……morphology tells us only so much. And more importantly it seem like white females were being impregnated by black males. Even more interesting is that what really happened between during slavery. There are so many lies documented. Notice Native American morphology was determined but not confirmed genetically.

[djoser-xyyman]

pics to come.

[djoser-xyyman]

[djoser-xyyman]

[djoser-xyyman]

So ...Anthropologically they are unsure what these people were. But Genetically they are Africans.....mostly