Burrs Hill burial ground artifacts reinterred in concrete vault in 2017. Burrs Hill Royal Burial Ground in Rhode Island contained over 600 artifacts including Chinese tripod vessels made of iron, copper, and cast iron Artifacts included copper beads, gold lances, golden scrolls, red jackets with solid gold buttons embroidered with gold thread The site was used as a sand and gravel source for a railroad constructed in 1853, leading to looting
Burrs Hill in Rhode Island was a major burial site with 600+ artifacts including Chinese iron tripod vessels, gold lances, copper beads, and red jackets with solid gold buttons. The site was looted when used for railroad gravel in 1853. In 1913, Charles Kerr exhumed 42 remaining graves, donating items to Brown University and New York's Hay Museum. Originally 24 tripod vessels were found, but most vanished into private collections. The Narragansett tribe successfully petitioned for repatriation, and artifacts were reinterred in a concrete vault in 2017 under NAGPRA provisions.
Key Facts
- Burrs Hill Royal Burial Ground in Rhode Island contained over 600 artifacts including Chinese tripod vessels made of iron, copper, and cast iron
- Artifacts included copper beads, gold lances, golden scrolls, red jackets with solid gold buttons embroidered with gold thread
- The site was used as a sand and gravel source for a railroad constructed in 1853, leading to looting
- In 1913, librarian and amateur archaeologist Charles Kerr exhumed contents from 42 remaining graves, donating items to Brown University and the Hay Museum of the American Indian in New York City
- Over 24 tripod vessels were originally found, but only three remain today as others disappeared into private collections
- The Narragansett tribe petitioned to have the items returned, and they were reinterred in a concrete vault in 2017 under NAGPRA provisions
Source: The Roundtable Chronicles - Ep-15 by Institute for Natural Philosophy