Tulsa Race Massacre Dig Uncovers 42 New Graves

Excavation at Oaklawn Cemetery Uncovers New Graves

The search for truth continues in Tulsa’s Oaklawn Cemetery, where investigators have uncovered 42 new graves not previously known to exist. Archaeologists and forensic experts began this phase of the excavation earlier this year as part of Tulsa’s continuing effort to identify victims of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.

The City of Tulsa confirmed that one of the newly found remains appears to belong to a male victim with a bullet still lodged in his lower rib cage. That grim detail provides powerful evidence that this individual may have died violently during the 1921 massacre. Officials say it is now the seventh gunshot victim discovered since the excavation project began.

Forensic Evidence Supports 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Findings

The discovery underscores the deep scars left by the Tulsa Race Massacre, one of the deadliest episodes of racial violence in U.S. history. Teams are using ground-penetrating radar, DNA analysis, and historical records to locate and identify each grave. City officials and descendants of massacre victims say each new discovery represents another step toward truth and reconciliation.

Archaeologists continue to catalog evidence and document burial patterns that may match known records from 1921. Each set of remains will be analyzed for forensic identification, and researchers will compare findings with historical documents and family genealogies.

The excavation at Oaklawn Cemetery remains one of the most closely watched archaeological projects in Oklahoma. Officials expect more discoveries as the search expands to new sections of the historic cemetery.

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