The Town of Southampton has purchased the property on Hawthorne Road where remains were found on what is believed to be an ancient burial ground for the Shinnecock Nation. The Town Board held a public hearing in October to decide whether Community Preservation Funds should be used for the purchase.
The owners of the property, KB Southampton LLC, agreed to sell the property to the Town for $450,000.00. Because the site had already been significantly disturbed, the Indian Nation raised an additional $50,000.00 for the restoration and preservation of the burial site.
The remains were found during excavation of the construction site on August 13th and the property owners immediately stopped work. The remains were sent to the Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s office to determine origin. An archeological study may also be required of the property to determine whether there are other remains at that location.
The findings prompted the creation of the Shinnecock Nation Cultural Heritage Committee within the Town of Southampton. The Committee recently held its first meeting and is considering recommending that formal procedures be adopted when ancient remains are found at construction sites in the future.
###
PRESS RELEASE: Feb. 07, 2019
Contact: Connie Conway
(631) 702-1743
