Rutgers Newark: ‘Human Remains’ Found At Construction Site

NEWARK, NJ — Workers have unearthed what may be human remains at a Rutgers University construction site that will serve as a future residence hall and mixed-use community, according to school administrators.

Workers discovered “fragments” of material suspected to be human remains at a paved lot on Washington Street between New and Linden streets, the future home of the $70 million “Honors Living-Learning Community,” a development that will include residences, classrooms/work spaces, street level retail stores and parking, university officials announced Monday.

Peter Englot, senior vice chancellor for public affairs and chief of staff at Rutgers University-Newark, provided Patch with the following statement about the discovery:

“Site preparation plans for the Honors Living-Learning Community that were filed with the State Historic Preservation Office addressed the possibility of finding human remains at the site. Such remains have been found on a portion of the site that had been occupied by a church that merged with another around 1940; the building was demolished 65 years ago. An expert team of archaeologists continues to investigate the site. Once investigations are complete a path forward will be determined that follows the state-accepted protocols for circumstances such as these.”

According to Rutgers, construction on the Honors Living-Learning Community is expected to be completed in 2018.

The project is not being delayed because of the discovery, Englot said.

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