Field investigations of abandoned Negro cemeteries using GPR presented by Alison Henning Rice University March 9, 2007

Field Work Without Rocks! Not much field work in Houston unless you are a sedimentologist – or a geophysicist! Perform geophysical field work (mainly GPR, magnetometer) in abandoned cemeteries Ties in to Houston history, archeology, land development, service learning

Abandoned Cemeteries Local geological society was volunteering at this cemetery We discussed possibility of using GPR to document unmarked graves Brought students out during the summer for GPR Undergrads in GIS class returned several times to acquire GPS data

It’s All About Geophysics Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to image subsurface Global positioning system (GPS) to locate GPR profiles and other features Geographic information system (GIS) to organize and interpret data collected

ESCI 515: Geophysical Field Work for Educators Process of science Teachers solve the problem - use common sense! Acquire data over known targets and compare to data from field Tie in to national and state standards Follow up with academic year course in Earth Science

Line /19/ Double Burial Modern Cemetery

Double Burial /19/2007 Anomaly - No Marker Modern Cemetery

Line /19/ Double Burial Comparison of Modern Cemetery and Field Site

~2 ft 8 ft Anomaly at ~2 ft depth was excavated – found metal surface, sounds hollow when tapped Break in soil horizon at ~4 ft – grave shaft Note the change in soil color at red arrow – lighter soil to left contains clay that was excavated by digging, darker soil is undisturbed

GIS

1930

1956

2006

Understanding Geophysics

Correlates with anomaly found on line 1 Correlates with anomaly found on line 16

Understanding Archeology

Conclusions Utilize geophysics, GPS and GIS to perform field work anywhere Investigating abandoned cemeteries is helpful to the community and participants are highly motivated Want to expand service learning component, involve more undergraduates and K-12 students