New development projects on previously undeveloped land often encroach upon existing private properties and farmlands.
Sometimes such a property includes cemeteries.
Centuries ago, this area was woods and farmland belonging to the Dotson family.
Their family cemetery was packed with more than a hundred people including those of many slaves.
The graves of Richard and Catherine Dotson on Runway 10 of Savannah Airport.
After the war ended, the army airfield was turned into a civilian airport.
Construction on the new airport started in the 1960s and new tracts of land were acquired for its expansion.
The original location of the two graves are now marked by two tombstones laid flat with the runway.
According to some Anglin family members, there are perhaps 16 to 20 people buried underneath the runway.
A couple of headstones for graves flush with the runways surface at the Mathis Airport.
Photo credit:www.airfields-freeman.com
One of the tombstone embedded in the runway of Mathis Airport.
Photo credit:Robert S/Flickr
Sources:savannahnow.com/Wikipedia/Stuck at the Airport/northfulton.com
