Confederate Guns in the Graveyard (original) (raw)
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Forensic archaeologists have been working for the past four decades, in locating mass graves, to unearth the victims of war, genocide and crimes against humanity. The application of geophysical surveying techniques to find these mass graves has been relatively idle, due to a lack of research into their practical uses. This paper tested three of the main geophysical techniques available for locating clandestine burials: Ground Penetrating Radar, Earth Resistivity, and Electromagnetic Induction. Each method was used to survey a recent simulated mass grave of four deer and a site containing multiple mass graves of deer skeletons as old as 2005 and earlier, capturing both early and late stages of decomposition. Three main conclusions were drawn: Resistivity can produce reliable results by the sixth week of decomposition in dry alluvial sand and clay deposits; EM is not suitable for locating a mass grave in the same deposits however produces strong results over graves in late stages of decomposition; and GPR results across decompositional stages are confusing without prior knowledge of burial locations. This research supports the use of Electromagnetic Induction at sites with advanced stages of decomposition and resistivity at mass grave sites within the early stages. Further research is needed into the window of time resistivity can be used on mass graves and the use of GPR in locating mass graves in complex geological sites.
Historical Archaeology, 2020
The Dawn Settlement near Dresden in southwestern Ontario was a mid-19th-century community of escaped slaves, or "freedom seekers," from the United States. In this study, a multicomponent geophysical survey (ground-penetrating radar, magnetic gradiometry, and electrical resistivity) was conducted on the British American Institute Cemetery, one of the two cemeteries directly associated with the settlement, to document the location of freedom-seeker graves whose markers had been damaged, knocked over, or removed during the 1960s due to the neglect and forgotten history of these burials. All the techniques provided useful information contributing to site interpretations, although GPR was found to be the most useful in identifying possible graves. We discuss the significance of incorporating archaeogeophysics techniques into heritage-management strategies and our responsibility to protect historical black cemeteries. Our survey also represents one of the first cemetery investigations related to the Underground Railroad in Canada.
Near Surface Geophysics, 2015
Searching for and mapping the physical extent of unmarked graves using geophysical techniques has proven difficult in many cases. The success of individual geophysical techniques for detecting graves depends on a site-by-site basis. Significantly, detection of graves often results from measured contrasts that are linked to the background soils rather than the type of archaeological feature associated with the grave. It is evident that investigation of buried remains should be considered within a 3D space as the variation in burial environment can be extremely varied through the grave. Within this paper, we demonstrate the need for a multi-method survey strategy to investigate unmarked graves, as applied at a "planned" but unmarked pauper's cemetery. The outcome from this case study provides new insights into the strategy that is required at such sites. Perhaps the most significant conclusion is that unmarked graves are best understood in terms of characterization rather than identification. In this paper, we argue for a methodological approach that, while following the current trends to use multiple techniques, is fundamentally dependent on a structured approach to the analysis of the data. The ramifications of this case study illustrate the necessity of an integrated strategy to provide a more holistic understanding of unmarked graves that may help aid in management of these unseen but important aspects of our heritage. It is concluded that the search for graves is still a current debate and one that will be solved by methodological rather than technique-based arguments. In his seminal paper on this subject, Bevan stated that, while ground penetrating radar (GPR) has had the greatest success at locating unmarked graves "…surveys have found no guarantee of success. Geophysical evidence has suggested that there were graves where there were none; known graves have also been invisible to these surveys" (Bevan 1991). His case studies are based around historic cemeteries where the markers have been lost or destroyed, and the discussion primarily revolves around GPR traverses and small-scale electromagnetic area survey. It is evident that, in the intervening years, the techniques that are available in the study of grave sites have advanced. Despite that assertion, in our opinion, the methodologies that provide the platform for analysis have not progressed accordingly, although there have been some recent and important advances that standardize the outcomes (Ruffell and McAllister 2015). With that in mind, the geophysical approach to the study of graves requires reconsideration. HIGH ROYDS PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL This case study presents the High Royds Memorial Gardens of Menston, West Yorkshire (Fig. 1). The survey was undertaken
Journal of Forensic Sciences, 2012
This study provides forensic search teams with systematic geophysical monitoring data over simulated clandestine graves for comparison to active cases. Simulated 'wrapped' and 'naked' burials were created. Multi-geophysical surveys were collected over a three-year monitoring period. Bulk ground resistivity, Electrical Resistivity Imaging, multi-frequency Ground Penetrating Radar and grave 'soil water' conductivity data were collected. Resistivity surveys revealed the naked burial had consistently low-resistivity anomalies, whereas the wrapped burial had small, varying high-resistivity anomalies. GPR 110-900 MHz frequency surveys showed the wrapped burial could be detected throughout, with the 'naked' burial difficult to resolve after 18 months. 225 MHz frequency data was optimal. 'Soil water' analyses showed rapidly increasing (year one), slowly increasing (year two) and decreasing (year three) conductivity values. Results suggest resistivity and GPR surveys should 2 be collected if target 'wrapping' is unknown, with winter to spring surveys optimal. Resistivity surveys should be collected in clay-rich soils.
Archaeological Prospection, 2012
One of the most popular applications of geophysics to archaeological problems has been to locate unmarked graves and map cemeteries. Although electromagnetic (EM) induction was one of the early techniques used in such applications, alternative techniques such as ground-penetrating radar and resistivity have become more popular in recent years. Despite some of the method's drawbacks the EM method still presents numerous advantages such as speed in data collection and collection in a variety of survey environments and ground cover. A case study from Ocmulgee National Monument, USA is presented that identified numerous anomalies that may be interpreted as Native American burials. Small anomalies having low apparent conductivity were distributed near the Funeral Mound (Mound C); a known cemetery. The conductivity survey redefined the spatial extent of the cemetery and increased our understanding of burial density. The data collected during the 2010 field season will aid in conservation efforts and help the US National Park Service avoid these sensitive materials during future archaeological work and park management.
Journal of Forensic Sciences, 2016
This ongoing monitoring study provides forensic search teams with systematic 21 geophysical data over simulated clandestine graves for comparison to active cases. 22 Simulated 'wrapped', 'naked' and 'control' burials were created. Multiple geophysical surveys were collected over six-years, here showing data from four to six 24 years after burial. Electrical resistivity (twin electrode and ERI), multi-frequency 25 GPR, grave and background soilwater were collected. Resistivity surveys revealed 26 the naked burial had low-resistivity anomalies up to year four but then difficult to 27 image, whereas the wrapped burial had consistent large high-resistivity anomalies. 28 GPR 110-900 MHz frequency surveys showed the wrapped burial could be detected 29 throughout, but the naked burial was either not detectable or poorly resolved. 225 30 MHz frequency GPR data were optimal. Soil water analyses showed decreasing (year 31 four-five) to background (year six) conductivity values. Results suggest both 32 resistivity and GPR surveying if burial style unknown, with winter to spring surveys 33 optimal and increasingly important as time increases. 34
Mapping social relationships: geophysical survey of a nineteenth-century American slave cemetery
Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, 2014
The goal of this project is to identify unmarked burials inside the known limits of a historic cemetery and unmarked slave burials adjacent to the cemetery to answer questions regarding variability in treatment of slaves by slave owners. This project used three geophysical prospection methods (electromagnetic induction/conductivity, ground penetrating radar, and magnetic susceptibility) to image the subsurface and locate unmarked graves. The results indicate that up to 21 possible unmarked graves exist at the Prior Cemetery. The survey detected 17 with two or more geophysical techniques and four with a single technique. Nine possible unmarked graves were tested with a metal probe. Every tested anomaly revealed less compact soils indicative of an unmarked grave.
Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is a geological prospection tool appropriated from fields in the natural sciences into anthropological research that provides a relatively quick and nondestructive method of investigating the near subsurface of a site. Originally utilized for archaeological investigations, including the location and delimitation of historic cemeteries, GPR has recently begun to play a larger role in forensic science. Ground Penetrating Radar can provide the forensic investigator with a noninvasive method of locating clandestine burials. This paper provides an overview of GPR and applications in the fields of archaeology and forensic investigations. Special attention is paid to the utilization of GPR in the detection of cemetery graves and further possible research in this area. Key Words: Ground Penetrating Radar, Clandestine Burials, Geophysical Applications in Anthropology, Historic Cemeteries