Cemeteries serve as sacred spaces for honoring the deceased and preserving cultural heritage. However, many cemeteries, particularly those of historically oppressed groups, face neglect and degradation. This paper explores the restoration efforts of Bethany Missionary Baptist Church in Pine Mountain, Georgia, as a case study in mortuary and community archaeology. Through collaborative efforts between the church, local community members, and Georgia State University, the cemetery's "lost" section was rediscovered and mapped. The study investigates the dynamics of community archaeology in rural settings, emphasizing reciprocal engagement, multivocality, and ethical considerations. It addresses challenges such as limited resources and time constraints inherent in student-led projects and discusses strategies to address these concerns for future projects. Furthermore, this thesis explores the role of power dynamics within archaeological investigations of African American cemeteries as well as how cemetery investigations relate to public archaeology. Ultimately, the project aims to create a comprehensive record of the Bethany Missionary Baptist Church cemetery while fostering meaningful community engagement and helping preserve marginalized histories.
Meagan Carter (Thu,) studied this question.