This weekend, thousands gathered in Washington, DC, to help lay one million handmade representations of human bones — 1,018,260 bones, to be exact — on the National Mall. This breathtaking installation created a haunting river of bones leading to the US Capitol, and represents the culmination of a nearly five-year social activism project imagined by TED Fellow Naomi Natale. The mass grave makes a dramatic petition against ongoing genocide and mass atrocities in Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burma, Syria and Somalia.

The bones were made over a period of years by artists, activists and schoolchildren and educators around the world. TED Fellows and photographers Teru Kuwayama and Camille Seaman are on hand to document the event — their images are featured below. The bones will be gathered up on Monday afternoon following a full program of activities. For more details on Naomi and the One Million Bones Project, read the TED Blog’s recent interview with her.

Naomi Natale, at the site of her One Million Bones installation on the National Mall in Washington DC. Photo: Teru Kuwayama

Naomi and crew among the bones. Photo: Camille Seaman

Buddhist monks attend the event. Photo: Teru Kuwayama

Participants at the One Million Bones installation on the National Mall in Washington DC. Photo: Teru Kuwayama

A close up of the bones. Photo: Camille Seaman