GPR

Ground‑penetrating radar (GPR) has played a key role in understanding the hidden landscape of Fort Duffield.
These surveys allow archaeologists to investigate sensitive areas—such as the probable Civil War cemetery—
without disturbing the ground.

Ground‑Penetrating Radar Study (2014)

In 2014, the Kentucky Archaeological Survey conducted a detailed ground‑penetrating radar (GPR) study at Fort Duffield
to help answer one of the site’s most enduring questions:
Where exactly was the Civil War cemetery located?

For decades, local tradition placed the cemetery on a small rise near the fort. No headstones survive, and written
records are scarce. To investigate the area without disturbing the ground, archaeologists used GPR — a non‑invasive
technology that sends radar waves into the soil and records reflections from buried features.

The survey identified several subsurface anomalies that may represent grave shafts. Soil cores taken from selected
locations showed some disturbed soil layers, but not enough to confirm burials with certainty. Because no excavation
was performed, the results remain cautious. Still, the pattern of anomalies strongly suggests that this area is the
most likely location of the wartime cemetery.

Today, the site is preserved as a quiet memorial space. The study helps us better understand the fort’s history and
honors the soldiers who served here during the difficult winter of 1861–62.

Source: Philip B. Mink II and Jay Stottman, “A Ground Penetrating Radar Survey of a Probable Cemetery Location at
Fort Duffield, West Point, Hardin County, Kentucky,” Kentucky Archaeological Survey, August 2014.

What Is Ground‑Penetrating Radar (GPR)?

Ground‑penetrating radar (GPR) is a non‑invasive method that allows archaeologists to “see” beneath the surface
without digging. A small antenna sends radar waves into the ground and records how those waves bounce back from
buried objects, soil changes, or voids.

By collecting many closely spaced readings, archaeologists can create map‑like images of what lies below. Features
such as possible grave shafts, foundations, or trenches may appear as distinct shapes or patterns in the data.
Because no soil is disturbed, GPR is especially valuable in sensitive areas like cemeteries and historic sites.

Maps from the 2014 GPR Study

Overview map showing Fort Duffield, surrounding terrain, and the general area of the suspected Civil War cemetery.
Map 1 – Fort Duffield Overview:
Shows the fort, surrounding terrain, and the general area of the suspected Civil War cemetery.
Rectangular grid layout used for the GPR survey, showing each transect line where radar data was collected.
Map 2 – GPR Grid Layout:
The rectangular grid marks the area surveyed with GPR. Each line represents a transect where data were collected.
GPR amplitude slice maps showing subsurface anomalies at multiple depths.
Map 3 – GPR Amplitude Slice Maps:
Horizontal slices through the ground at different depths. Bright or dark shapes represent subsurface anomalies.
Map showing the locations of soil cores taken within the GPR grid.
Map 4 – Soil Core Locations:
Shows where soil cores were taken relative to GPR anomalies.

© 2026 Fort Duffield • Research Section