News Release

Locating an African American cemetery at Fort Frederica National Monument given agency honors

Date: June 2, 2021
Contact: Jill Hamilton-Anderson, 912-409-2612

SAINT SIMONS ISLAND– National Park Service announces Cotter Award winners. The 2021 John L. Cotter Award for Excellence in NPS Archeology is presented to individuals and teams who demonstrate innovation in archeological practice, resource stewardship, and public outreach, among other criteria.  

The project “Locating the African American Cemetery at Fort Frederica National Monument” was honored in the project award category. It resolved a long-standing question of the location of burials related to the enslaved and freed populations of African Americans at Fort Frederica on St. Simons Island, Georgia. Working closely with stakeholders, Michael Seibert and Eric Bezemek developed a research methodology to locate burials with minimal ground disturbance and established a committee who participated in the decision-making process. They supervised and mentored students and volunteers who played integral roles in researching biographies of the interred individuals, developed outreach events and materials, and contacted stakeholder groups.   

The project culminated in a day-long festival celebrating Gullah Geechee cultural heritage, highlighted by a re-dedication ceremony involving three different religious practices. The burial site at Fort Frederica is located adjacent to the Abbott Memorial and is identified by oyster shells and a fence. A new museum exhibit at Fort Frederica anticipated to open next summer will highlight the insights gained from this project. 

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