GSSI helps archaeologists to investigate an unmarked cemetery

Special Thanks to Michael Cunningham Ellen Birkland City of Boston Data Collected using GSSI’s UtiltyScan TM System Geophysical Survey Systems, Inc. A Potter’s Field Surveyed on Boston’s Long Island City archaeologists contacted GSSI to investigate a large unmarked cemetery located on Boston’s Long Island. The area was suspected to contain many more graves than its markers indicated, but until GPR data could be provided, no one really knew what was under the sod. The Project GSSI used UtilityScan to survey the tract of land, which was a mowed grassy area approximately the size of a football field. A 400 MHz antenna was used with the system to map out the entire plot in about two hours. Initial readings showed that there were definitely graves on the property even though the piece of land was never formally recorded as a cemetery. Boston’s islands have been used for various purposes since the early 1600’s. The goal was to prove that the unspoiled land being examined was actually a large graveyard and should be preserved as such. The city’s archaeologist knew that the island had at one time been used as a repository for the sick, insane and criminal, and it was suspected that they were given improper burials in this undocumented spot. Project Description After the data was collected with UtilityScan and run through GSSI’s post processing software, RADAN, an interesting discovery was made. There were actually walking paths laid out in a square fashion beneath the entire property scanned. These paths were most likely made of stone, which allowed them to be detected easily by GPR because there was a definitive change in the subsurface material in these areas. Numerous white spots were also found in the data, and they appeared to be laying in formation. The spots were most likely graves since some of them matched up with grave markers that were still left in the ground. It was also likely that these spots were burials because they were all laid outside of the walking path areas. GPR proved that the city archaeologist and researchers were correct. There were many, many more graves there than previously recorded on Boston’s record. 369 more to be exact. The data collected was used to show city officials that the entire piece of property was used as a graveyard, and it will now be preserved as a historical site. Outcome [email protected] • www.geophysical.com Copyright © 2014 All Rights Reserved

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Special Thanks to

Michael Cunningham Ellen Birkland City of Boston

Data Collected using GSSI’s UtiltyScanTM System

Geophysical Survey Systems, Inc.

A Potter’s Field Surveyed on Boston’s Long Island

City archaeologists contacted GSSI to investigate a large unmarked cemetery located on Boston’s Long Island. The area was suspected to contain

many more graves than its markers indicated, but until GPR data could be provided, no one really knew what was under the sod.

The Project

GSSI used UtilityScan to survey the tract of land, which was a mowed grassy

area approximately the size of a football field. A 400 MHz antenna was used with the system to map out the entire plot in about two hours. Initial readings showed that there were definitely graves on the property even though the piece of land was never formally recorded as a cemetery.

Boston’s islands have been used for various purposes since the early 1600’s. The goal was to prove that the unspoiled land being examined was actually a large graveyard and should be preserved as such. The city’s archaeologist

knew that the island had at one time been used as a repository for the sick, insane and criminal, and it was suspected that they were given improper burials in this undocumented spot.

Project Description

After the data was collected with UtilityScan and run through GSSI’s post processing software, RADAN, an interesting discovery was made. There were actually walking paths laid

out in a square fashion beneath the entire property scanned. These paths were most likely made of stone, which allowed them to be detected easily by GPR because there was a definitive change in the subsurface material in these areas.

Numerous white spots were also found in the data, and they appeared to be laying in formation. The spots were most likely graves since some of them matched up with grave markers that were still left in the ground. It was also likely that these spots were burials because they were all laid outside of the walking path areas.

GPR proved that the city archaeologist and researchers were correct. There were many, many more graves there than previously recorded on Boston’s record. 369 more to be exact. The data collected was used to show city officials that the entire piece of property was used as a graveyard, and it will now be preserved as a historical site.

Outcome