HAR recently conducted remote sensing survey of the Hartley cemetery in Knox
County, Indiana. This site is typical of many others that have been
encroached upon by agricultural use in that the remaining headstones represent
only a fraction of those that existed there originally. A 1940 WPA map
depicts the Hartley cemetery as 69' x 70' or approximately 21m x 21m in area.
The remaining surface features span an area of only 10m x 15m with the bulk of
these situated around a fairly well laid out family plot atop an eroding sand
knoll. The purpose of the survey was to re-establish original boundaries so
that the Knox County Cemetery Commission could place a fence around and
preserve what remains of the site. The property owner cooperated by
permitting survey activities but remains reluctant to allow fencing of that
portion of the cemetery he currently farms.
HAR utilized a cadaver dog (Greta) to assist in delineation of the Hartley
cemetery. Corn stubble in the easternmost area was cleared by Knox County
Cemetery Commissioner, Jon Andrews, and a 5-meter grid system was established
to encompass the entire knoll. HAR technician, Ernie Humberger, and Greta
intensively searched the entire grid and flagged three suspected burials
outside the perimeter of the remaining graveyard. Weather conditions were
less than favorable for a search of this nature with 25 mph gusting winds and
single digit wind chill; however, the search team persisted and were able to
identify three potential graves on the lee sides of the knoll and a fourth on
the south end of the existing cemetery.
Subsequent conductivity survey of the grid system indicates burial anomalies
in all four of the areas identified by Greta. Several other suspected grave
anomalies were located outside the confines of the remaining cemetery in
support of the WPA recorded boundaries.
Further archival research of this site will be necessary to provide the survey
with adequate historical evidence in support of the two pronged remote sensing
survey. It is felt that additional background information will be necessary
to convince the property owner and perhaps legal authorities to fence the
entire area and to discontinue farming of part of this cemetery. If anyone
has any information about the Hartley cemetery, please provide references to
the following contact person:
Jon Andrews
Knox County Cemetery Commission
PO Box 295
Vincennes, IN 47591
(812) 882-3363
Thanks in advance for any and all assistance. HAR will post the results of
this survey on our "What's New" page ( URL below) at some point in the near
future.
Rich Green
Historic Archaeological Research
4338 Hadley Court
West Lafayette, IN 47906
Office: (765) 464-8735
Home: (765) 464-8095
http://www.har-indy.com