Mystery solved: no Native American mass grave in Southborough

A radar scan showing three grave vaults in Southborough's Old Burial Ground.

SOUTHBOROUGH

The town’s oldest mystery has been solved: there is no mass grave of Native Americans at the Old Burial Ground.

An examination of the downtown cemetery has revealed there are more than 700 unmarked graves – including a plot outside the walls - and a pile of debris from the Hurricane of 1938, said David Falconi, chairman of the Historical Commission and president of the Historical Society. No evidence was found, however, of a long-rumored Native American mass grave.

Now the town is working with an archeologist and waiting for the final report from Russell Kempton of New England Geophysical of Mendon, who used ground penetrating radar to scan the graveyard last year.

Falconi said the archeologist, Newton resident Barbara Donohue (CQ), will conduct research on the burial ground using town and state records. A presentation of both reports is being prepared for this fall’s Heritage Day.

-- Jennifer Rosinski