The City of New Braunfels has contracted with Texas State University to perform an archaeological survey of an area within the New Braunfels Cemetery, located at 279 S. Grape Avenue, in preparation for the “Field of Graves” project.
That project calls for the construction of a memorial walk and an 8-foot monument to memorialize German settlers that died following their journey to New Braunfels. The archaeological work is required to obtain permitting from the Texas Historical Commission prior to the start of construction on the project.
“Field of Graves” is a cultural and historical project that will honor those who took the historic journey from Germany to Texas and founded New Braunfels in 1845, as well as memorialize the deaths of over 300 people who died once they arrived due to cholera and other illnesses.
“Many of those who died after arriving were buried in unmarked graves at New Braunfels Cemetery,” said Parks and Recreation Director Chad Donegan. “This project, which is happening in partnership with the City’s Cemetery Committee and the New Braunfels Parks Foundation, will finally provide a lasting memorial to those settlers.”
The City has previously engaged an engineering firm to perform a ground penetrating radar survey of the unmarked areas to select a project location that does not interfere with existing burial sites. The archaeological work at New Braunfels Cemetery includes excavating a 120-foot by 120-foot section, removing between 3 and 10 inches of soil to verify that no unmarked graves exist in the vicinity of the proposed memorial. That work is expected to begin the week of January 29th and is anticipated to last several days.
To learn more or to get involved with the “Field of Graves” project, visit www.newbraunfels.gov/cemetery.