A team of archaeologists started excavation work in central Nebraska on Monday. Their objective is to locate a lost cemetery believed to contain the remains of up to 80 Native American children who died at a boarding school.
The excavation is taking place at the former site of the Genoa Indian Industrial School. This school was in operation from 1884 to 1931 and was one among several boarding schools established by the U.S. government for Native American children. The primary goal of these schools was to assimilate the children into white American culture. However, numerous children experienced disease, neglect, and abuse, resulting in their untimely deaths
The Genoa school experienced a flu pandemic in 1920, resulting in the deaths of 21 students. School records indicate that at least 80 students died there, but the actual number could be higher.
The exact location of the cemetery has been lost for decades. In 2019, researchers from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln used ground-penetrating radar to scan the area and believe they have identified the likely location.
The current excavation is led by archaeologists from the Nebraska State Historical Society. They are utilizing ground-penetrating radar, metal detectors, and traditional excavation techniques to search for the cemetery.
The dig is expected to last several weeks. If the archaeologists succeed in finding the cemetery, their focus will shift to identifying the remains of the buried children and returning them to their families.
The discovery of the Genoa school cemetery serves as a reminder of the dark history of Native American boarding schools. It also presents an opportunity to bring closure to the families of the deceased children.
