Correction appended

DNA results of samples from 30 of the remains of bodies removed from gravesites during a University of Georgia construction project revealed the vast majority were African-Americans, remains that should be reinterred in one of Athens' two African American cemeteries, not as planned in one of Athens' historically white cemeteries, say some leaders in Athens' black community.

The university's administration is planning to rebury the remains of about 100 people in the Oconee Hill Cemetery near Sanford Stadium, for many years the primary cemetery for Athens' white community.

Workers discovered the first bodies in late 2015 as work began to remodel and expand 1930s-era Baldwin Hall on UGA's north campus. Archaeologists called in to carefully remove the remains eventually disinterred more than 100 from the site. The land on which Baldwin Hall sits was once part of the Old Athens Cemetery on Jackson Street, the town's main cemetery from about 1810 to 1856.

Archaeologists thought at first the remains were of white people, but DNA analysis of 30 of the burials showed that "the vast majority of the remains sufficient for analysis were of African-Americans," wrote Greg Trevor, UGA executive director for media relations, in a Tuesday press release announcing UGA's plans for the remains. The university also plans a commemorative ceremony in Oconee Hill Cemetery March 20.

Oconee Hills does contain the unmarked graves of some people who were slaves, but it's not the right place for the people unearthed during the Baldwin Hall construction, said Linda Davis, who has spearheaded restoration efforts at Athens' Brooklyn Cemetery.

"If they just put them into Oconee Hills, they'll just be forgotten. I'd like to see them all reinterred in a place that we can bring some dignity and respect to them," said Davis, who is also a member of the Clarke County Board of Education. "They need to be reinterred with their community."

The Brooklyn Cemetery, next to Alps Road Elementary School, and Gospel Pilgrim, on Fourth Street, both date to 1882 and contain the bodies of many people born into slavery and black leaders of the late 19th and 20th centuries, Davis explained.

In addition to reinterring the remains in one of those historic African American cemeteries, UGA should also establish an endowment for future upkeep of the graves, Davis said.

Davis is not the only one disappointed in UGA.

"Finally, the University of Georgia is sharing information regarding the cemetery at Baldwin Hall. Clearly, the question we started asking in December 2015 has been answered - Are these slave graves? The answer is yes," wrote Fred Smith, co-chair of the Athens Area Black History Committee.

"Sadly, since December 2015, the University has desecrated the 200-year-old slave cemetery (100-plus known grave sites) to make room for the expansion of a building! Inconceivable!" Smith wrote in an email.

Smith also noted this is not the first time UGA has removed remains from the area. Others were moved to a different place in 1938, when Baldwin Hall was built.

Davis is also trying to track down where those remains are - near the city's water treatment plant, she's heard. She'd like to see those people's remains moved to a better place as well, she said.

Follow Lee Shearer at www.facebook.com/LeeShearerABH or https://twitter.com/LeeShearer.

A previous version of this story had incorrect information. Results from samples of 30 remains revealed they were of African-American descent, but it could not be substantiated how many of the 100 or so bodies found were of African-American descent.