90.Geophysical Investigations of Four Suspected Pioneer Grave Locations Along the Oregon and California National Historic Trails, Marshall and Pottawatomie Counties, Kansas
Steven L. De Vore and Robert K. Nickel

The November 2000 and August 2001 archeological and geophysical investigations of grave sites along the Oregon and California National Historic Trails in northeastern Kansas was initiated by the National Park Service in response to a request from the KANZA Chapter of the Oregon and California Trails Association. A meeting and site tour were held with the members of KANZA Chapter and the Midwest Archeological Center Archeological Assistance and Partnership Program archeologist between May 8 and May 10, 2000. This visit was to assess the feasibility of the application of geophysical techniques to the search for historic graves along the trails in northeastern Kansas. Five possible grave locations were visited: three in Marshall County (14MH322, 14MH323, and 14MH324—the Alcove Spring site) and two in Pottawatomie County (14PO312—the Cholera Cemetery site, and 14PO406). The KANZA Chapter members felt that these locations contained graves associated with travel along the Oregon and California Trails. Geophysical investigations, including magnetic gradient, resistance, conductivity, and groundpenetrating radar surveys, were conducted at four of the five sites identified by the KANZA Chapter members.