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    1. [KY-CEM] Graves found by highway in Campbell County
    2. This article was in the Ky. Post, and thought that it might be of interest, and just in case there might be some family members out there. Nancy By Luke E. Saladin, Post staff reporter State highway officials got a big surprise recently while performing environmental studies in preparing for the widening of U.S. 27 in Campbell County.Near the intersection of U.S. 27 and Ky. 154, just south of the Fairlane Baptist Church, crews discovered a cemetery with six graves, and possibly more.The discovery is not expected to slow down the U.S. 27 project, since the portion where the graves are located isn't scheduled to be widened for another two years.Although the origin of the graves remains a mystery, preservation officers and highway officials do have some leads.The first deed on record for the property was issued in 1804 to James Taylor, who was one of Campbell County's first settlers and owned about 1,000 acres in the area.The current owner, the Darlington family, has owned the land since the 1860s and members say they have no idea who the graves belong to.''There could be as many as 20 graves, but we really won't know until we start digging'' said Richard Guidi, branch manger for pre-construction in the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.Despite publishing a state-required advertisement seeking relatives of those buried in the graves, no descendants have come forward. The state went a step further this week by mailing and faxing out press releases seeking information about the graves.Officials say they would honor a request by family members of those buried in the spot not to move the graves. If no descendants are found, Guidi said the state hopes to have the graves removed within three months.In the meantime, two of the graves will be carefully excavated before their contents are sent to Frankfort for review by the state historic preservation office.If the graves show signs of historical significance, the same care will be taken with the remaining graves.If studies find nothing unusual, the remaining graves will be relocated to a cemetery following guidelines established by the state.The intricate procedure highlights increased efforts by the state in the last five years to deal with unmarked graves as potential archaeological resources.''We're starting to look at graves with more of a historical perspective,'' said David Pollack, staff archaeologist with the Kentucky Heritage Council, which oversees such procedures.Pollack said anything from clothing to the actual bones can help determine if the graves have historical significance. Generally, the older the graves, the more significant, he said.''From the bones, we can determine ethnicity and find out whether the graves belong to Native Americans or some other group, such as slaves,'' Pollack said. ''But these initiatives are very new. We're still learning as we go.''

    02/22/2002 08:12:09