Unearthed: Five Enslaved Individuals’ Identities Revealed at Controversial Louisiana Industrial Site

Genealogist Identifies Enslaved Individuals Buried at Proposed Industrial Site in Louisiana

A genealogist’s research has uncovered the identities of five enslaved individuals believed to be buried at a planned industrial site in southeast Louisiana, shedding new light on the ongoing battle between local community groups and developers over cultural heritage preservation.

Lenora Gobert, in findings published by Louisiana Bucket Brigades and Inclusive Louisiana, has identified Stanley, Harry, Simon, Betsy, and Rachel as enslaved individuals who likely lived and died on the plantation that once occupied the site. The research reveals details about their ages and financial history, including instances of being mortgaged by plantation owners.

While financial documents provide some insight, detailed records of these individuals’ lives remain scarce. Historians note that it was customary for enslaved people to be buried on plantations, suggesting a high likelihood that the identified individuals were interred on the site. This theory is supported by research from Forensic Architecture, which indicates the presence of hundreds of potential burial sites in the region.

The controversy surrounding the site intensified in 2020 when an archaeological report commissioned by Formosa Plastics Group revealed human remains. It later emerged that an initial 2018 survey had also found evidence of burials, information that Formosa initially withheld from the public. The company has since considered relocating the remains, a proposal met with strong community opposition.

In response to these findings, Formosa has committed to protecting the burial site, including erecting fencing around the area. However, the project faces ongoing legal challenges. A 2022 court ruling canceled Formosa’s air permits due to pollution concerns and the site’s cultural significance, though this decision was overturned by Louisiana’s First Circuit Court of Appeal in January.

Gobert has called for proactive measures by companies and authorities to protect such burial sites, questioning the lack of recognition and protection afforded to the final resting places of enslaved individuals. As the debate continues, the identification of Stanley, Harry, Simon, Betsy, and Rachel adds a personal dimension to the broader discussion about cultural preservation and industrial development in the region.