Why Two People Are Buried In Graves Under Runway At Airport

If you're sitting on a plane, gazing out the window and waiting to take off for a holiday, the last thing on your mind is probably what's beneath the runway. It's not a thought that usually crosses anyone's mind. But there's one airport that stands out from the rest in this regard. It has a unique historical detail hidden right in its tarmac.

If your travels ever take you to the Savannah Hilton Head Airport in Georgia, USA, keep an eye out as you land. You might notice something a bit unusual about the runway. There are two rectangular shapes side by side for a very specific reason.

At the edges of runways 10 and 28, there are two graves. Just off to the side, there are two more. But why are there graves at an airport?

Long before this area was turned into an airport, it belonged to a couple named Catherine and Richard Dotson.

Two people have been left buried under the tarmac Instagram / savhhiairport

The land, known as Cherokee Hills, was their farm. Both were born in 1779, and the Dotsons spent 50 years together in marriage before Catherine passed away in 1877. Richard followed her in 1884.

As was the custom back in the 19th century, they were buried on their own land, side by side. The area where they were buried was the family cemetery on their farm. It held about 100 graves, including, sadly, the graves of slaves. The markers you see on the runway today mark the grave sites of Catherine and Richard, which have been there for over 150 years.

After their deaths, as World War II approached, the military needed a place to land B-24 'Liberators' and B-17 'Flying Fortresses.' The chosen location was right on top of the old cemetery, which meant nearly all the graves had to be moved to Bonaventure Cemetery. But the Dotsons’ graves stayed.

The Dotsons' descendants have chosen to keep their graves on-site Savannah Airport

Their descendants wouldn’t allow their graves to be moved.

They believed Catherine and Richard would want to remain on the land they had worked so hard to cultivate. With no other option, the runway was paved over their graves. As a sign of respect, markers were placed on top of the graves to honor those buried beneath the surface.

And those aren’t the only graves at the airport. According to the airport’s website, two more Dotson family members, Daniel Hueston and John Dotson, are buried nearby, in the brush close to the airport’s busiest runway.

So, there you have it—a little piece of history lying beneath a runway to think about next time you're traveling through Savannah Hilton Head Airport.

Here are a few other unique airports around the world that stand out for their unusual features or history:

1. Princess Juliana International Airport (St. Maarten)

Unique Feature: Planes fly incredibly low over Maho Beach.

This airport is famous for its low-altitude flyovers right above a public beach. Visitors can literally stand on the beach and feel the jet blast as planes land just a few meters above them.

ShutterStock

2. Gibraltar International Airport (Gibraltar)

Unique Feature: A runway that intersects with a busy street.

One of the most unique aspects of this airport is that its runway crosses Winston Churchill Avenue, the main road that leads to the border with Spain. Traffic has to be stopped every time a plane lands or takes off, similar to a railroad crossing.

3. Tenzing-Hillary Airport (Lukla, Nepal)

Unique Feature: One of the most dangerous airports in the world.

Situated in the Himalayas, this airport serves as a gateway for climbers heading to Mount Everest. It’s known for its short runway (only 527 meters) and its steep incline, along with the high-altitude location surrounded by mountains, making it extremely challenging for pilots.

Getty

4. Courchevel Altiport (France)

Unique Feature: A runway with a steep incline.

This small airport in the French Alps has a sloped runway, making takeoffs and landings extremely tricky. Pilots need special training to land here, and it’s popular among wealthy travelers heading to the exclusive ski resorts in the region.

ShutterStock

5. Kansai International Airport (Osaka, Japan)

Unique Feature: Built on an artificial island.

Kansai Airport is constructed on an entirely man-made island in Osaka Bay. Due to its location, it’s considered an engineering marvel, though it has faced challenges with sinking land and the need for constant maintenance.

Alamy

6. Barra Airport (Scotland)

Unique Feature: A runway made of sand.

Barra Airport is the only airport in the world where scheduled flights use a beach as the runway. Depending on the tides, the beach is either used for landings and takeoffs or is submerged underwater. This means the flight schedule can change based on the tide!

Barra Airport

7. Paro Airport (Bhutan)

Unique Feature: Nestled in the Himalayas with only a few certified pilots.

Known for being one of the most challenging airports in the world, only a handful of pilots are licensed to land here. The airport is surrounded by mountains and offers stunning views, but its short runway and high altitude make landing very difficult.

Paro International Airport

These airports showcase just how diverse and fascinating aviation can be, from challenging landings to runways that double as public spaces!