African Burying Ground Memorial

The African Burying Ground Memorial stands as a poignant tribute to the lives of nearly 200 Africans, both enslaved and free, who were laid to rest in an 18th-century burying ground. Unearthed in 2003 during a construction project, the site is the only archaeologically verified African burying ground of its time in New England. The memorial park, dedicated in 2015, incorporates several elements that encourage reflection and honor the lives of those interred there. The entrance features a granite stele with bronze figures representing an African man and woman, separated yet reaching for each other, symbolizing the separation and perseverance experienced by those brought to America as captives. A pathway called the 'Petition Line' is inscribed with excerpts from a 1779 petition to the New Hampshire legislature by twenty enslaved individuals seeking their freedom. At the far end of the memorial, a burial vault marked with a Sankofa symbol contains the reinterred remains of individuals discovered during the excavation. The memorial serves as a powerful reminder of the history of slavery in New England and the resilience of the African American community. It is a stop on the Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail and the New Hampshire Black Heritage Trail.