Is Anyone Out There? Survey and Research Techniques for CRM Projects when Burial Grounds/Cemeteries Border Construction Projects.

Summary

This is an abstract from the session entitled "Mortuary Monuments and Archaeology: Current Research" , at the 2020 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

In 2017, the Cultural Resource Survey Program at the New York State Museum conducted a CRM survey prior to highway construction along the front edge of the Elbridge Rural Cemetery. Some of the first pioneers of the town of Elbridge, including several Revolutionary War veterans are buried in this nondenominational cemetery. The cemetery expanded organically through the 19th century until it was incorporated in 1847, when it took on the style of a rural cemetery that incorporated landscaping elements within a gridwork of roads and paths.

Though the project limits only extended to the current fence line, concern was raised at the possibility of unmarked burials outside of the fence line. Archaeologists approached this unique survey task with a holistic approach, incorporating traditional Phase I survey techniques with geophysical survey and ground truthing, a pedestrian survey of the cemetery, and extensive background research. These approaches are continually developing in CRM.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for Historical Archaeology 2020   •
• Mortuary Monuments and Archaeology: Current Research

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 808