Archaeology Without Digging: Connecticut History Uncovered by Ground-Penetrating Radar

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) has been used by the Connecticut Office of State Archaeology and the Department of Agriculture's Natural Resource Conservation Service to investigate historical cemeteries and places of note in Connecticut. This book narrates the stories of GPR studies at 10 historical sites, spanning the 17th to the 20th centuries, including the discovery of a below-ground hidden 19th-century family burial tomb, the detection of hurriedly dug, unmarked burials associated with the 1918 influenza pandemic, and the detection of the unknown location of a 1941 military plane crash site.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 144 pages
Publication date: 15 March 2023
Publisher: Oxbow Books

Over the past three decades, the Connecticut Office of State Archaeology and the Department of Agriculture's Natural Resource Conservation Service have collaborated in a groundbreaking partnership, employing ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to explore the state's rich archaeological and historical heritage. The outcome of this collaboration has been the investigation of numerous historical cemeteries and significant landmarks across Connecticut. The authors have chosen ten geophysical surveys that have utilized GPR as a non-intrusive, non-destructive exploratory tool, yielding positive results in the search for unmarked burials, confirmation of marked burials, and authentication of areas of known historical events.

This book takes readers on a captivating journey through the stories of GPR studies conducted at ten historical sites in Connecticut, spanning the 17th to the 20th centuries. Each chapter delves into a unique historical mystery, exploring various aspects of our research, including the discovery of a lost grave of an African-American Revolutionary War veteran, the verification of French Revolutionary War military personnel in a mass grave, the detection of a below-ground hidden 19th-century family burial tomb, the identification of hurriedly dug, unmarked burials associated with the 1918 influenza pandemic, and the determination of the unknown location of a 1941 military plane crash site, among others.

Professionally, the authors possess over 40 years of experience in GPR, soil science, and archaeology, bringing their collective expertise to the reader in a scientific yet personal and engaging manner. Each chapter provides a comprehensive historical background of the sites, detailing the equipment used and the interpretation of the data in solving historical problems.

This book is a valuable resource for archaeologists, historians, and anyone interested in uncovering the hidden secrets of Connecticut's past. It offers a unique perspective on the use of GPR in historical research, showcasing its potential to reveal new information and shed light on long-standing mysteries. Through its captivating stories and expert analysis, this book provides a deeper understanding of the state's rich cultural heritage and contributes to our collective knowledge of history.

Weight: 366g
Dimension: 169 x 241 x 11 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781789259261