60-6 Locating an Unmarked Mass Grave at the Finleyville cemetery in Finleyville, PA using Ground-Penetrating Radar

Session: 2YC and 4YCU Geoscience Student Research Poster Showcase

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Abstract:

The Finleyville cemetery in Venetia, Pennsylvania was established in 1887 during times of prevalent segregation laws where those of differing ethnicities and race were buried in separate locations and with differing degrees of surface indicators. Local historical societies suspect that the Finleyville cemetery is home to an unmarked mass grave that contains the remains of 16 minority laborers who were killed in the Cincinnati Coal Mine explosion on April 23^rd, 1913. A Sensors and Software 250 MHz ground-penetrating radar was utilized to collect two grid surveys (64x22 ft and 64x28 ft) in the northeastern edge of the property to supplement several previously collected surveys in an attempt to confirm the suspected location of a mass burial. Data was processed in EKKO_Project to remove noise and generate time slices to then be shown in map view as KMZ files in Google Earth and in photo overlays for better understanding of potential location. Preliminary assessment of data indicates a likely region for the mass burial in the most recent data collection as evidenced by prominent hyperbolic reflectors along the east side of the survey region. By conducting this survey and analysis of the area, Peters Township Historical Society will have better guidance to install memorial signage and prepare for future development.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Program. Vol. 57, No. 6, 2025

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-6570

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