Bones of freed slaves 'haunt' St. Helena island They made it to freedom, just about -- hundreds of Africans who were rescued from slave traders in the 19th century were taken to the remote island of St Helena, but many of them died of their injuries. Their graves were discovered in 2008 during work to build a road for the new airport, but a decade on the remains are still in storage, with campaigners hoping they will one day receive a dignified burial.