Tulsa Race Massacre Graves Investigation Finds 32 New Burial Sites
Tulsa Race Massacre Graves Investigation Uncovers 32 Previously Unknown Burial Sites at Oaklawn Cemetery
Archaeologists investigating possible burial sites connected to the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre have uncovered 32 previously unknown grave shafts at Oaklawn Cemetery, marking another significant discovery in the city's yearslong search for victims. The findings emerged during the sixth field season of an investigation combining archaeology, forensic science and historical research to uncover the identities of people buried in unmarked graves.
The Tulsa Race Massacre graves investigation has also revealed burial sites extending beyond the cemetery's western fence line, including graves beneath the paved Midland Valley Trail. Researchers have exhumed three individuals for forensic examination, although investigators have not established whether those remains belong to massacre victims. The discoveries raise new questions about the extent of the cemetery's historic burial grounds and how many people may have been buried without permanent markers.
Tulsa Race Massacre Graves Investigation Reveals Burials Beneath Walking Trail
The latest excavation at Oaklawn Cemetery identified 32 grave shafts that had not previously been documented.
Among the most notable discoveries were six additional graves located entirely outside the cemetery's western fence, beneath asphalt along the Midland Valley Trail.
Researchers also examined burial shafts partially identified during earlier fieldwork.
The findings suggest that historic burial areas extended beyond boundaries visible today, complicating efforts to reconstruct the cemetery's original layout.
According to reporting by KTUL, the discoveries are part of the continuing investigation into Oaklawn's historically segregated burial sections, including an area where Black residents were buried without individual grave markers.
The broader investigation has now identified more than 100 previously unmarked graves, although the existence of a grave alone does not establish a connection to the 1921 massacre.
Forensic Scientists Examine Three Newly Exhumed Individuals
On October 13, investigators recovered the remains of three individuals from two excavation areas and transferred them to an on-site osteology laboratory.
Dr. Phoebe Stubblefield, a forensic anthropologist with the University of Florida, is leading examinations of the remains and associated artifacts.
Initial X-rays revealed no obvious evidence of physical trauma, but researchers cautioned that further cleaning and examination could uncover injuries not immediately visible.
The investigation has previously identified remains showing gunshot wounds, strengthening evidence that some Oaklawn burials are connected to the massacre.
The City of Tulsa's 1921 Graves Investigation has also identified C. L. Daniel and James Goings as massacre victims through forensic and historical research. Their identification demonstrates how modern scientific methods can help resolve questions left unanswered for more than a century.
DNA Research Offers Hope of Identifying More Tulsa Massacre Victims
The search began in 2018, drawing on historical death certificates, newspaper accounts, oral histories and archaeological evidence.
Records from 1921 indicate that 21 documented massacre victims were reportedly buried at Oaklawn Cemetery, although the full number of victims remains uncertain.
Before the current field season, investigators had exhumed 55 individuals and obtained usable DNA profiles from 22, according to the City of Tulsa.
Intermountain Forensics is helping researchers connect unidentified remains with living relatives through genetic genealogy.
Excavation work is expected to continue through early November 2026, with additional laboratory analysis afterward. The cemetery and adjacent Midland Valley Trail are temporarily closed during fieldwork.
Families who believe they may have connections to massacre victims can participate in genealogy research through tulsa1921dna.org or contact idteam@tulsa1921dna.org.
More than a century after the destruction of Tulsa's Greenwood District, the investigation continues its work to identify the dead and provide answers to surviving families.
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