Mapping anthropogenic fill with GPR for unmarked grave detection: a case study from a possible location of Mokare’s grave, Albany, Western Australia
Paul Bladon 1 5 Ian Moffat 1 2 David Guilfoyle 3 Alice Beale 4 Jennifer Milani 1
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
1 Department of Archaeology, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.
2 Research School of Earth Sciences, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia.
3 Applied Archaeology, PO Box 4025, Albany, WA 6330, Australia.
4 Anthropology and Archaeology Department, Western Australian Museum, Locked Bag 49, Welshpool DC, WA 6986, Australia.
5 Corresponding author. Email: paul.bladon@gmail.com
Exploration Geophysics 42(4) 249-257 https://doi.org/10.1071/EG11018
Submitted: 8 April 2011 Accepted: 7 October 2011 Published: 23 November 2011
Abstract
Geophysical techniques are a commonly used, non-invasive method for the location of unmarked graves. Contrary to popular perception, most studies rely not on directly imaging skeletal material but instead on locating the subsurface disturbance created by grave digging. This approach is effective only when sufficient contrast exists between detectable properties (such as structure, mineralogy or porosity) of the grave fill and the surrounding sediment. Resolving these features can be particularly problematic in disturbed areas where other anthropogenic fill is in place, as it is often complex in character and lacks a natural stratigraphy.
In many cultural heritage projects, it is often more important to ensure that burials are not disturbed rather than to specifically locate them. Under these circumstances, ground penetrating radar (GPR) can be used to locate modern anthropogenic fill. This may show which areas of the site are younger than the targeted graves and therefore of no archaeological interest. This approach is trialled on a site thought to contain the grave of Mokare, a significant historical figure in the colonial settlement of the Albany area in Western Australia. The delineation of a package of modern fill in the shallow subsurface in the context of the probable history of earthworks on the site demonstrates that Mokare is not buried in the surveyed location. This approach, applied to suitable sites, could contribute to culturally sensitive non-invasive investigation of burial sites in other locations.
Key words: anthropogenic stratigraphy, ground penetrating radar, Mokare, unmarked graves.
References
Baker, G., and Jol, H., eds., 2007, Stratigraphic analyses using GPR: Geological Society of America, Colorado, Special Paper 432.Barton, C., and Montagu, K., 2004, Detection of tree roots and determination of root diameters by ground penetrating radar under optimal conditions: Tree Physiology, 24, 1323–1331
Bevan, B., 1991, The search for graves: Geophysics, 56, 1310–1319
| The search for graves:Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bristow, C., and Jol, H., 2003a, An introduction to ground penetrating radar (GPR) in sediments, in C. Bristow, and H. Jol, eds., Ground penetrating radar in sediments: Geological Society, London, Special Publications 211 (1): 1–7.
Bristow, C., and Jol, H., eds., 2003b, Ground penetrating radar in sediments: Geological Society, London, Special Publications 211.
Bristow, C., Pugh, J., and Goodall, T., 1996, Internal structure of aeolian dunes in Abu Dhabi determined using ground penetrating radar: Sedimentology, 43, 995–1003
| Internal structure of aeolian dunes in Abu Dhabi determined using ground penetrating radar:Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bruzewicz, A., Smith, C., Berwick, D., and Underwood, J., 1986, The use of ground penetrating radar in cultural resource management, in Technical Papers 1986: American Congress on Surveying and Mapping/American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ACSM-ASPRS) Annual Convention, Vol. 5, 233–242.
Carson, M., and Petley, D., 1970, The existence of threshold hillslopes in the denudation of the landscape: Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, 49, 71–95
| The existence of threshold hillslopes in the denudation of the landscape:Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Chauncy, P., 1851, Albany, King George’s Sound (Map): Albany History Collection, Albany Public Library.
Clint, R., 1832, Albany Settlement (Map): Albany History Collection, Albany Public Library.
Collie, A., 1834, Anecdotes and Remarks relative to the Aborigines at King George’s Sound, The Perth Gazette and Western Australian Journal, Albany Public Library Local Studies Collection, in N. Green, ed., 1979, Nyungar – The people: Aboriginal customs in the southwest of Australia: Creative Research in association with Mount Lawley College of Advanced Education, North Perth.
Conyers, L., 2006, Ground penetrating radar techniques to discover and map historic graves: Historical Archaeology, 40, 64–73
Conyers, L., and Goodman, D., 1997, Ground-penetrating radar: an introduction for archaeologists: AltaMira Press, Walnut Creek, CA.
Cook, J., 1960, Proposed monocycle-pulse very-high-frequency radar for airborne ice and snow measurement: Journal of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, Transactions on Communication and Electronics, 79, 588–594
Dentith, M., O’Neill, A., and Clark, D., 2010, Ground penetrating radar as a means of studying palaeofault scarps in a deeply weathered terrain, southwestern Western Australia: Journal of Applied Geophysics, 72, 92–101
| Ground penetrating radar as a means of studying palaeofault scarps in a deeply weathered terrain, southwestern Western Australia:Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Doolittle, J., and Bellantoni, N., 2010, The search for graves with ground-penetrating radar in Connecticut: Journal of Archaeological Science, 37, 941–949
| The search for graves with ground-penetrating radar in Connecticut:Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Francke, J., 2010, Applications of GPR in mineral resource evaluations, in L. Crocco, R. Persico, L. Orlando, and M. Pieraccini, eds., Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Ground Penetrating Radar, Lecce, Italy, 21–25 June 2010, 719–723.
Geoscience Australia, 2010, MapConnect Geology Maps. Source Data: Published 1 : 250,000 scale geological maps Geological Survey of WA 1984 and Geoscience Australia, supplemented in parts by more recent stratigraphic classification in GSWA 1 : 500,000 scale Solid Geology dataset 2008, accessed 28 October 2010: http://www.ga.gov.au/mapconnect
Goode, B., 2001, Ethnographic survey of Albany Town Lot S112, Albany, Western Australia. Report prepared for the City of Albany: Albany History Collection, Albany Public Library.
Goode, B., Irvine, C., Harris, J., and Thomas, M., 2005, ’ Kinjarling’, the place of rain: the City of Albany and Department of Indigenous Affairs Aboriginal heritage survey. Report for the City of Albany and the Department of Indigenous Affairs: Albany History Collection, Albany Public Library.
Google Earth, 2010, Map, MapData Services Pty Ltd, DigitalGlobe, accessed 9 November 2010: http://maps.google.com.au
Gracia, V., Canas, J., Pujades, L., Clapes, J., Caselles, O., Garcia, F., and Osorio, R., 2000, GPR survey confirms the location of ancient structures under the Valencian Cathedral (Spain): Journal of Applied Geophysics, 43, 167–174
Grandjean, G., Gourry, J., and Bitri, A., 2000, Evaluation of GPR techniques for civil-engineering applications: study on a test site: Journal of Applied Geophysics, 45, 141–156
| Evaluation of GPR techniques for civil-engineering applications: study on a test site:Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Green, N., 1984, Broken spears: Aboriginals and Europeans in the southwest of Australia: Focus Education Services, Perth.
Hillman, A., 1836, Site of Albany 1836 (Map): Albany History Collection, Albany Public Library.
Huggenberger, P., 1993, Radar facies: recognition of facies patterns and heterogeneities within Pleistocene Rhine gravels, NE Switzerland, in J. Best, and C. Bristow, eds., Braided rivers: Geological Society, London, Special Publications 75 (1): 163–176.
Imai, T, Sakayama, T, and Kanemori, T, 1987, Use of ground-probing radar and resistivity surveys for archaeological investigations: Geophysics, 52, 137–150
| Use of ground-probing radar and resistivity surveys for archaeological investigations:Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
King, J., Bevan, B., and Hurry, R., 1993, The reliability of geophysical surveys at historic-period cemeteries: an example from the Plains Cemetery, Mechanicsville, Maryland: Historical Archaeology, 27, 4–16
McCann, D., Jackson, P., and Fenning, P., 1988, Comparison of the seismic and ground probing radar methods in geological surveying, in Proceedings of the Institute of Electrical Engineering, Part F, 135 (4): 380–391.
Miller, P., 1996, Disturbances in the soil: finding buried bodies and other evidence using ground penetrating radar: Journal of Forensic Sciences, 41, 648–652
| 1:STN:280:DyaK283ovV2guw%3D%3D&md5=6774362db9bf6790f93a7e952400ba19CAS |
Mulvaney, D., and Green, N., eds., 1992, Commandant of solitude: the journals of Captain Collet Barker 1828–1831: Melbourne University Press, Carlton.
Nind, S., 1831, Description of the natives of King George’s Sound (Swan River colony) and adjoining country, The Journal of the Royal Geographical Society of London, in N. Green, ed., 1979, Nyungar – The people; Aboriginal customs in the southwest of Australia: Creative Research in association with Mount Lawley College of Advanced Education, North Perth, 21–51.
Nobes, D., 1999, Geophysical surveys of burial sites: a case study of the Oaro urupa: Geophysics, 64, 357–367
| Geophysical surveys of burial sites: a case study of the Oaro urupa:Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Nobes, D., 2000, The search for ‘Yvonne’: a case example of the delineation of a grave using near-surface geophysical methods: Journal of Forensic Sciences, 45, 715–721
| 1:STN:280:DC%2BD3czht1Kqtg%3D%3D&md5=c23fdac6274be34c41a3130439b5d9adCAS |
Novo, A., Lorenzo, H., Rial, F., and Solla, M., 2010, 3D GPR in forensics: finding a clandestine grave in a mountainous environment: Forensic Science International, 204, 134–138
| 3D GPR in forensics: finding a clandestine grave in a mountainous environment:Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Owsley, D., and Compton, B., 1997, Preservation in late 19th century iron coffin burials, in W. Haglund, and M. Sorg, eds., Forensic taphonomy: the postmortem fate of human remains: CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida, 511–526.
Pedley, H., Hill, I., and Denton, P., 2000, Three dimensional modelling of a Holocene tufa system in the Lathkill valley, north Derbyshire, using ground penetrating radar: Sedimentology, 47, 721–737
| Three dimensional modelling of a Holocene tufa system in the Lathkill valley, north Derbyshire, using ground penetrating radar:Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Power, M., Belcourt, G., and Rockel, E., 2004, Geophysical methods for kimberlite exploration in northern Canada: The Leading Edge, 23, 1124–1129
| Geophysical methods for kimberlite exploration in northern Canada:Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pringle, J., Westerman, A., Clark, J., Guest, J., Ferguson, R., and Gardiner, A., 2003, The use of vertical radar profiling (VRP) in GPR surveys of ancient sedimentary strata, in C. Bristow, and H. Jol, eds., Ground penetrating radar in sediments: Geological Society, London, Special Publications 211 (1): 225–246.
Reynolds, J., 1997, An introduction to applied and environmental geophysics: John Wiley and Sons, Chichester.
Rial, F., Pereira, M., Lorenzo, H., Arias, P., and Novo, A., 2009, Resolution of GPR bowtie antennas: an experimental approach: Journal of Applied Geophysics, 67, 367–373
| Resolution of GPR bowtie antennas: an experimental approach:Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Schultz, J., 2003, Detecting buried remains in Florida using ground-penetrating radar. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Florida, Gainesville, UMI Dissertation Services.
Shellam, T., 2009, Shaking hands on the fringe: negotiating the Aboriginal world at King George’s Sound: University of Western Australia Press, Crawley.
Smith, D., and Jol, H., 1992, Ground penetrating radar investigation of a Lake Bonneville delta, Provo level, Brigham City, Utah: Geology, 20, 1083–1086
| Ground penetrating radar investigation of a Lake Bonneville delta, Provo level, Brigham City, Utah:Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Splajt, T., Ferrier, G., and Frostick, L., 2003, Application of ground penetrating radar in mapping and monitoring landfill sites: Environmental Geology, 44, 963–967
| Application of ground penetrating radar in mapping and monitoring landfill sites:Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), 2001a, Topsoil soil texture, Australian Soil Resource Information System, Commonwealth of Australia, accessed 9 November 2010: http://www.asris.csiro.au
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), 2001b, Topsoil pH of areas of intensive landuse in Australia, Australian Soil Resource Information System, Commonwealth of Australia, accessed 9 November 2010: http://www.asris.csiro.au
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), 2001c, Topsoil silt content of areas of extensive landuse in Australia, Australian Soil Resource Information System, Commonwealth of Australia, accessed 9 November 2010: http://www.asris.csiro.au
Van Dam, R., 2002, Internal structure and development of an aeolian river dune in The Netherlands, using 3-D interpretation of ground-penetration radar data: Geologie & Mijnbouw, 81, 27–37
Vaughan, C., 1986, Ground-penetrating radar surveys used in archaeological investigations: Geophysics, 51, 595–604
| Ground-penetrating radar surveys used in archaeological investigations:Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Watters, M., and Hunter, J., 2004, Geophysics and burials: field experience and software development, in K. Pye, and D. Croft, eds., Forensic geoscience: principles, techniques, and applications: Geological Society, London, Special Publications Vol. 232, 21–31.
Whiting, B., McFarland, D., and Hackenberger, S., 2001, Three-dimensional GPR study of a prehistoric site in Barbados, West Indies: Journal of Applied Geophysics, 47, 217–226
| Three-dimensional GPR study of a prehistoric site in Barbados, West Indies:Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
