African American Burial Ground Project & Tropicana Field

This is a visual translation of a living project being done by the University of South Florida’s Heritage Lab led by Antoinette T. Jackson, Phd. We expose the geologic layers of history under Tropicana Field according to the Heritage Lab’s research. Each layer shows the emergence and disappearance of Black communities and their cemeteries which were paved over by consecutive rounds of development. Recent scans reveal remains still interned contrary to official accounts of removal as new luxury housing developments and rebranding of the area’s story takes place. This research by the USF Heritage Lab is ongoing and is revealing more sites in the region where historically Black communities, their stories and ancestors have been erased from official histories even while living in the memories of descendants. Dr. Jackson is also founder and director of the Black Cemeteries Network bringing together professional historians, archeologists and local activists who are recovering lost Black cemeteries across the United States.