Approximately 22 headstones at the Old Burying Ground adjacent to the First Presbyterian Church of Southold were damaged on or around April 6, police said.
Cemetery director Jane Anderson, who was unavailable for comment, phoned Southold Town Police on April 7 to report the damage to the headstones, many of which are centuries old.
The Old Burying Ground was founded in 1640 and is the oldest English burying ground in New York State. The graves of many of the founding families of Southold Town are located there.
Police are investigating the vandalism.
