Charleston’s Commission on History is pushing city council to hire an official city archaeologist following months of controversy over a proposed College of Charleston dormitory at a site believed to contain thousands of unmarked graves.

Harlan Greene, the influential Charleston historian who chairs the commission, told council members Tuesday that the position could prevent future disputes over historically sensitive sites like 106 Coming St., where the college wants to build student housing.

“Preservation laws protect everything from the ground up,” Greene said during Tuesday’s council meeting. “But the hallowed ground on which we stand often has no protection for what lies beneath.”

The Coming Street site, currently a parking lot and former YWCA office, is thought to be the final resting place of between 4,600 and 12,000 people, including poor whites, enslaved Africans, travelers and orphaned children. The area was formerly known as “Strangers and Negroes Burial Ground” and was bounded by Coming, Vanderhorst and Calhoun streets, with some maps showing St. Philip Street as the eastern boundary.

Greene presented a resolution the commission adopted in November 2025 encouraging the city to actively participate in protecting the site. But he said more action is needed.

“It’s likely that this resolution just presented and the anxiety, concern and distrust that many of our citizens feel would not have arisen in the first place if this part of our history and our past was protected,” Greene said.

A city archaeologist could serve as an official steward for Charleston’s historical sites, participating in public discussions and following ethical guidelines such as consulting with local descendant communities when appropriate, Greene said.

The YWCA of Greater Charleston purchased the 106 Coming St. property in the early 20th century, but the cemetery was reportedly not mentioned in the property description or the organization’s records.

The college has formed a Community Engagement Council in response to criticism of the dormitory project. The council has held four community meetings with college leadership, with the most recent on Feb. 5.

The controversy highlights broader challenges Charleston faces in balancing development pressure with historic preservation. The city’s preservation laws focus on above-ground structures but provide limited protection for archaeological sites and unmarked burial grounds.

Greene’s proposal comes as the city grapples with other preservation issues, including calls to re-seat the Marion Square Commission to restore public trust after questions about the appointment process.

The commission resolution encourages the city to be a role model in historical preservation, but Greene argued that without dedicated archaeological expertise, the city lacks the tools to properly evaluate and protect sensitive sites before development begins.

City council has not indicated when it might consider Greene’s recommendation for a city archaeologist position. The College of Charleston’s dormitory proposal remains under review as community engagement continues.

The next Community Engagement Council meeting has not been scheduled, though the college has committed to ongoing dialogue with community members and preservation advocates about the Coming Street site.