Letters

I am not exactly sure what is going on now with the property across from Sugar Loaf Hill, but the last time I was there an injunction to stop further construction had been issued and was being ignored. Most of the trees had been cut down and, despite the fact that there had been no archaeological examination of the property, it had already been desecrated.

Now I hear that because a permit for “a berm” has been issued, loads of dirt are being trucked in and dumped on the property, which makes it harder to examine for bones that might well be found, because it is not far from Sugar Loaf Hill — sacred burial grounds for generations of Shinnecock warriors and chiefs.

My understanding — and, more importantly, that of members of the Graves Protection Warrior Society — was that once the Graves Protection legislation was passed in September 2020, there would always be ground-penetrating radar inspection done before any work was begun on a property in certain designated areas in the vicinity of Sugar Loaf Hill, as well as a thorough examination of the property for any bones, remains or whatever could be excavated — which is now made much more difficult because of the dirt that was “illegally” dumped onto the property.

This examination was supposed to be performed by a competent archaeologist who had the approval of the GPWS members. We know that the one you had has quit and await news of the next candidate, who should then be introduced to members of the GPWS for their approval.

Please make clear what is going on here and how soon this situation can be corrected.

On Monday, we will be standing among other allies with members of the Shinnecock Nation outside Southampton Town Hall, demanding answers.

“The sanctity of human burial sites must be protected. We need to be sure we are not disturbing our cultural heritage and destroying ancestral burial grounds.” (Jay Schneiderman, Southampton Patch, September 8, 2020.)

Heidi Rain

Tom Oleszczuk

Southampton