LOCATING UNMARKED GRAVES IN HISTORIC CEMETERIES USING GROUND PENETRATING RADAR

Ground penetrating radar (GPR) control was acquired at several historic cemeteries in south-central Missouri, with the objective of locating unmarked graves. At each study site, GPR profiles were acquired along closely-spaced traverses using a single 400 MHz antenna coupled to a survey cart. The locations of known graves, trees, tree roots, utilities, and small surface depressions were carefully noted. The latter was of particular interest because unmarked graves, especially in cemeteries that were neglected, are often characterized by surface depressions caused by the degradation of the coffin/content and the collapse of the overlying soil.