Frequently Asked Questions

Why are you disturbing this cemetery? Can't you just leave it alone? 

UMMC is a state institution funded, in part, by the taxpayers of Mississippi. Since its opening in 1955, UMMC has been committed to it patients, its students, and its researchers. It is Mississippi's only academic medical center and must make decisions based on what's best for the current and future patients and students. The now unmarked cemetery controls a very large portion of UMMC's main campus, and is needed for expansion. UMMC leaders carefully weighed its ethical and moral obligations to both the living and the dead, and proceeded with the respectful exhumation of burials in the cemetery by a small team of professional archaeologists. In doing so, UMMC is better poised to serve the health care needs of the living.  

What is the Asylum Hill Project?

When a construction crew discovered skeletal remains on the University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) Campus in 2012, further archaeological study revealed that there could be several thousand individuals buried in what was once a cemetery for the Mississippi State Lunatic Asylum, which had been located on the same grounds from 1855 to 1935. Dr. Ralph Didlake of UMMC assembled a group of scholars, the Asylum Hill Research Consortium (AHRC) to help oversee the project. 

Are you planning to exhume the remains of those buried in the Asylum Hill Cemetery?

As part of its long-term mission, the University of Mississippi Medical Center must eventually use that portion of its campus to expand and upgrade its medical offerings to better serve future patients. The Center for Bioethics and Medical Humanities (CBMH) at UMMC is leading the effort to have the remains removed before any new construction will take place. In 2019, the Mississippi Legislature appropriated funds for excavation of the cemetery.

Why don’t you simply leave the remains where they are?

As a state-funded institution, UMMC has limited resources. The most cost-efficient way to serve UMMC’s future patients is to carefully and professionally exhume, preserve, and relocate the remains in preparation for expansion of buildings and services.

Who will be doing the exhumation of the remains?

In 2022, UMMC hired Dr. Jennifer Mack, an experienced bioarchaeologist, to conduct the archaeological work. Dr. Mack is leading a small crew of experienced archaeologists to exhume and curate the remains.

Was every person buried in the Asylum Hill Cemetery once a patient at the Asylum?

Based on historical records, we believe the large majority, if not all, of the approximately 4000 to 6000 burials were patients at the Asylum between the years of 1855 and 1935.

Were the patients who died buried in one big mass grave?

No. Our team of archaeologists has found, based on the over 1000 exhumations already done, that each individual buried at the Asylum Cemetery was placed an individual coffin. The simple pine coffins were likely built on site, but the exhumations have revealed a few elaborate, store bought caskets as well. Our research also indicates the individuals were buried in accordance with Christian beliefs and the cultural practices of the time. 

Why wouldn’t family members claim a relative’s body for burial?

Records reflect that bodies were normally buried within 24 hours of death. The limitations of communication and transportation as well as cost would likely have factored into the need to bury a patient in the Asylum Cemetery.

Were the graves always unmarked?

No. There are some headstones that remain today and can be seen at the UMMC Cemetery where they were relocated in 1992. Historical accounts suggest each grave was marked, at the very least, with a wooden marker and painted with the name of the person buried. Unfortunately, the markers deteriorated or were perhaps destroyed over time and are now lost to us. One of the actual wooden markers can be seen at the museum at the Mississippi State Hospital in Rankin County. 

Why wasn’t the cemetery maintained over the years?

The Old Asylum ceased operation at the UMMC site in March of 1935 and all patients were transferred to the Mississippi State Hospital in Rankin County (Whitfield). UMMC did not open until 1955 and during the intervening two decades, the cemetery area of the Asylum lands was not maintained. Weeds, brush, and trees reportedly overtook it. Even after the Medical Center opened in 1955, that area of the campus was reportedly overgrown and largely inaccessible.

What is the process for exhumation of a burial site?

Dr. Jennifer Mack and her team identifies the exact location of and depth of burial for each grave. Dirt above the coffins is removed using a backhoe, operated by Johnny Bass, an experienced professional in uncovering burials. Once the top coffin material is revealed, the archaeology team uses hand implements, such as trowels and brushes, to carefully remove dirt around the coffins and remains. This ensures the best possible preservation of all material associated with the burial. The remains are carefully and respectfully removed from the graves along with any remnants of a coffin, coffin hardware, clothing, or objects placed in the grave. These are cleaned and allowed to dry before being boxed in special archival boxes. The interim archive is located on the UMMC campus in accordance with Mississippi law. 

Will you be able to identify my relative’s remains?

Identification of skeletal remains very difficult at this time. The exhumation and careful curation of the remains does, however, preserve and stabilize them for the possibility of future identification.

What about testing the DNA?

Because of the age of these remains (all believed to be interred before 1935) and the nature of the soil and climate in this area, DNA samples from individual remains are difficult to obtain. Our archaeologists, however, make every effort to gather and preserve possible DNA source material whenever possible.

What will you be able to tell from the remains?

Each individual set of remains is analyzed using up-to-date methodology to estimate age at death, sex, ancestry, and to describe any evidence of health, stress, and disease present on the bones. These cursory observations are noted in a database.

Can I provide my DNA to help match it to my relative?

At this time, the AHRC is consulting with leading DNA specialists. Fortunately, the AHP will not require possible descendants to submit DNA samples directly to the project.  Instead, descendents only need the DNA analysis provided by international companies like Ancestry.com to provide information about a match.  Any matching, however, is till subject to the extraction of DNA from the remains. As described earlier, successful DNA extraction from the degraded remains continues to be a challenge.  

Will UMMC be using these remains for study or scholarly research other than that which is necessary for possible identification?

Additional analysis and research may be conducted if that work has the potential to create a clearer understanding of life at the Asylum or conditions the patients may have experienced prior to admission to the Asylum.