Forgotten Bones: Uncovering a Slave Cemetary

Reviewed by: Kathy George - Gray publlic Library, Gray, Me 04039, Choose Library District

Review Date: March 29, 2017

Review

This narrative by archaeologist Lois Huey is really two stories. The first is the discovery and excavation of a 1770s slave cemetery in Albany, New York.Ms Huey walks the reader through the steps which bioarchaeologists(those who study human remains)take to secure the area, handle the bones and other artifacts, how they are studied and what can be learned about the culture.While the text is scientific, the reader has no problem understanding the process.The second story is the story of what being a slave in the north was like: where they came from, what they did day to day, how they lived and how they died. For the budding scientist, this is a book that offers a glimpse into the scientific world , for the budding historian, it offers a glimpse of the life of a slave of the north. This is history and science at its best.

Overall Book Score: excellent