Grave marker stops work on approach for Patton bridge

FLORENCE -- Work was halted Tuesday on construction of a portion of the Patton Island bridge's north approach when workers found a grave marker in a pile of debris.

Research conducted later, however, indicates the site is most likely an illegal dump rather than an old cemetery.

"The name on the tombstone matches the name of an individual who died in Lauderdale County and is buried in a cemetery we've been able to trace," said Tony Harris, a spokesman for the Alabama Department of Transportation.

Transportation officials have not been able to travel to the cemetery, but they have discovered that the person's date of death differs by one year from the date on the marker found Tuesday.

Alabama Department of Transportation Division Engineer James Brown said the headstone was found on a new section of Alabama 133 between Avondale Road and Florence Boulevard.

Brown said a worker was clearing some brush on the new road's alignment when he uncovered the headstone.

Harris said work was halted in that area, which is just north of Avondale Road, after the discovery, and efforts were started to determine what had been found.

They enlisted the assistance of the vital records division of the Alabama Department of Public Health.

"Every indication from records research is that there is no cemetery in that area," Harris said.

Just to be certain, Harris said archaeological experts from the transportation department will travel to Florence today to further evaluate the area where the headstone was found.

He said the team would use ground-penetrating radar and traditional investigative techniques to determine if there are any graves in the area.

Harris said the discovery was a surprise because the transportation department conducts exhaustive research to determine if there are sensitive environmental, cultural or historic sites in the paths of new roads.

If a grave were to be discovered, Harris said they would determine if there are others and try to identify the people buried there. Then they would have to find next of kin and arrange for relocation.

"There are procedures in place for dealing with that, and we would follow those procedures," Harris said.

The Patton Island bridge north approach project will link Alabama 133 from Huntsville Road to Helton Drive near its intersection with Hermitage Drive.

Russ Corey can be reached at 740-5738 or russ.corey@timesdaily.com.