Hansen, JD and Pringle, JK (2011) Geophysical investigations in UK graveyards: re-use of existing burial grounds. In: Near Surface 2011: 17th European Meeting of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics, 12-14 Sep 2011, Leicester, UK.

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Abstract

Three graveyards with contrasting soil types and burial styles have been investigated in order to determine the optimum geophysical detection technique(s) and configurations. These include St. James’, Newchapel, Stoke-on-Trent, St. Luke’s, Endon, Stoke-on-Trent and St. John of Jerusalem’s in Hackney, North London. GPR results determined that 250-450 MHz dominant frequency antennae were optimal to detect isolated graves and vaults. 2D GPR profile interpretation was generally preferred to horizontal time-slices, the latter being generally variable in quality due to the surprisingly made-ground nature of the site. Fixed-offset resistivity surveys using 0.5 m and 1 m spaced probe configurations found that 0.5m spaced probes were generally optimal, using 0.25 m point spacings on 0.5m-spaced survey lines (Figure 1 for example). Archaeological investigations of selected graveyard areas found surprising variation in both style (from vaults with eight vertically stacked individuals to isolated graves), orientation and grave contents (with missing and extra individuals respectively). This study showed existing parish records to be surprisingly incomplete when compared to geophysical anomalies and archaeological excavations, indicating a number of incorrectly marked and possibly unmarked burials. Graves and vault markers finally do not always indicate the character of vault or burial style.

Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Uncontrolled Keywords: forensic geophysics, forensic science
Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GB Physical geography
Divisions: Faculty of Natural Sciences > School of Physical and Geographical Sciences
Depositing User: Symplectic
Date Deposited: 04 Jun 2015 10:44
Last Modified: 22 Jun 2018 13:06
URI: https://eprints.keele.ac.uk/id/eprint/562

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