Bruton Town Descendants Heritage Initiative

A Historic Burial Ground

Brutontown Cemetery is a historic African American burial ground in Greenville County, South Carolina, with origins that predate the community's later identification as "Brutontown".

Historical records, oral histories, death certificates, and preservation research confirm that this land was used for burial purposes before the surrounding community was formally named or developed. 

Evidence of Early Burial Use

An 1818 recorded deed associated with the land documents the existence of a burial site prior to the area becoming known as Brutontown. This recorded establishes that burial activity on or near this land occurred in the early nineteenth century, providing critical historical context for the cemetery's origins and significance. 

This evidence confirms that the burial ground: 

• Was established before modern municipal boundaries

• Predates later redevelopment and land-use changes

• Represents ancestral burial use tied to early African American presence in the area

As with many historically Black burial grounds, formal documentation was often incomplete or fragmented, particularly where land ownership, burial practices, and community development intersected with enslavement, segregation, and systemic exclusion from public recordkeeping.

Continuity of Sacred Use

Over generations, this land continued to serve as a resting place for formerly enslaved individuals, freedom fighters, veterans, community leaders, and families who later became associated with the communities historically known as Brutontown, Southernside, Cripple Creek, and Newtown.

The cemetery holds the names, stories, and legacies of those whose lives shaped Greenville's history —  including individuals whose graves were documented, photographed, and verified prior to the 2025 disturbance. 

This ground has long held sacred meaning. Its use as a burial site did not begin with the name Brutontown —  the name followed the ground, not the other way around. 

Impact on Preservation and Transition to Restoration

Preservation and Stewardship Prior to 2025

Prior to the August 2025 disturbance, Brutontown Cemetery had been the subject of coordinated preservation, documentation, and stewardship efforts led by Furman University, including its Seeking Abraham Project, along with other preservation partners. 

Since 2017, this work included: 

• Identification, photographing, and recording of grave markers

• Documentation of surface conditions and burial features

• Preservation-guided cleanup and site care conducted to improve visibility and protect historical context

These efforts were undertaken using recognized preservation practices and established a verified pre-disturbance baseline for the site. 

Disruption of Established Baselines

The extent of physical damage observed after the August 2025 clearing activity significantly altered site conditions and disrupted previously documented baselines. As a result, the preservation work at Brutontown has transitioned from documentation and stewardship to restoration and damage assessment. 

This disruption altered reference conditions relied upon by preservationists to distinguish historic burial features from post-disturbance impacts. 

In response, Clemson University has assumed leadership of the physical and technical restoration efforts, reflecting its expertise and capacity in archaeological assessment, geospatial analysis, and non-invasive investigative technologies. Clemson's role includes the use of ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and drone-based imaging to assess subsurface conditions, identify burial features, and evaluate the full extent of disturbance.

At the same time, Furman University continues to lead the ethno-archaeological and historical recovery efforts, focused on restoring understanding of the land, the community, and the people connected to Brutontown. This work integrates oral histories, archival research, death certificates, and community memory to reconstruct historical context that may no longer be visible on the surface. 

Transition to Clemson-Led Restoration and Furman-Led Ethno-Archaeology

Damage assessment using GPR and drone technology in early 2026 and constitutes Phase I of a broader restorative plan. Given the scale of disturbance and the complexity of the site, the full restoration process is expected to take multiple years and will require careful sequencing, oversight, and coordination among preservation specialists.

Once baseline conditions are disrupted without documentation or controls, the ability to distinguish historic burial features from post-disturbance is permanently disminished. This realty underscores the need for: 

• Immediate protective measures

• Controlled access to the site

• Any future work  — including cleanup, investigation, or restoration — to occur only under qualified archaeological and preservation oversight. 

The transition from preservation to restoration reflects both the seriousness of the disturbance and the necessity of long-term, expert-led intervention.

Our Focus and Current Work

The Brutontown Descendants Heritage Initiative (BTDHI) is a descendant-led effort focused on protection, restoration, and accountability. 

Our work centers on three interconnected priorities: 

Protection

• Preventing further disturbance of Brutontown Cemetery

• Advocating for enforceable safeguards for marked and unmarked graves

• Supporting controlled access and oversight for any future activity on or near the site

Restoring History

• Reconstructing the historical record of Brutontown and its people

• Supporting ethno-archaeological research and community-based history recovery

• Preserving names, stories, and burial locations disrupted or lost over time

Accountability-

• Seeking clarity regarding how and why the August 2025 disturbance occurred

• Examining historic encroachments and redevelopment impacts

• Pursuing appropriate remedies through legal, regulatory, and preservation channels

These priorities guide all current and future actions related to Brutontown Cemetery. 

Until boundary questions are resolved through professional investigation, adjacent land use remains a continuing risk to unmarked burial areas.