Oaklawn Investigation Finds 47 Unmarked Graves
The sixth field season at Oaklawn Cemetery documented new graves tied to the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Violence
Investigators completed their sixth field season at Oaklawn Cemetery on November 5, 2026, documenting 47 new unmarked graves connected to the Tulsa Race Massacre. The team exhumed 30 individuals found outside the cemetery's fence line, and nine of them will receive further examination.
Why it matters
The findings expand the known footprint of graves linked to the 1921 massacre in Tulsa, a local event that remains central to the city's history. Identifying the individuals through DNA analysis could help families and historians reconstruct who was lost.
Thirty individuals found outside the fence line were exhumed, and nine met at least two search criteria and will undergo DNA analysis. Two of the nine showed signs of ballistic trauma, and the identities of those recovered remain unknown.
The players
Oaklawn Cemetery
A historic Tulsa cemetery whose grounds are the focus of the ongoing search for graves connected to the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre.
The details
Investigators documented graves in the Sexton area, the Clyde Eddy area, and the original 18 area, and believe they have located the westernmost row of the original cemetery. Graves partially or completely under the fence line were not damaged by utility lines or the retaining wall.
Timeline
Early October 2026: The sixth field season began at Oaklawn Cemetery.
November 5, 2026: The sixth field season concluded.
Legal Context
The investigation extends the search for victims of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, whose burial sites were long unrecorded. The expanded grave count places the 2026 season within a continuing effort to recover that history.
Families who believe relatives may have been lost in the 1921 massacre could seek information about DNA and genealogy work connected to the investigation. The project is documenting graves in a cemetery used by the local community.
The takeaway
The discovery of additional graves shows that the physical record of the 1921 massacre is still being uncovered. Residents interested in this history can follow official DNA and genealogy updates as identifications progress.
Further reading
For more on the broader history of violence in the city, see Violence coverage from Tulsa.
More information
Learn more about the 1921 graves DNA and genealogy information.
Source note: This article includes information reported by News On 6.
