College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

Term of Award

Spring 2026

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Social Sciences (M.A.)

Document Type and Release Option

Thesis (open access)

Copyright Statement / License for Reuse

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

CC-BY 4.0

Department

Department of Sociology and Anthropology

Committee Chair

Ryan McNutt

Committee Member 1

Jacqueline Berger

Committee Member 2

Jared Wood

Abstract

Geospatial investigations of burials are increasingly recognized as the most efficient and ethical means of determining grave locations in forensic and bioarchaeological research. A methodology of multi-tiered geospatial investigation has been applied to the Big Buckhead Baptist Church cemetery in Millen, GA. Using the systematic layering of geospatial technologies, the present study seeks to identify ground surface anomalies, with the objective of delineating known and potential unknown burial locations. It is hypothesized that the layered use of Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), will allow for the most efficient and accurate demarcation of potential unmarked burials. The present study will expand upon research introducing LiDAR into forensic and bioarchaeological contexts and argues that the collaborative use of geospatial technologies is more accurate compared to previous methodologies relying on a single technique.

Research Data and Supplementary Material

No

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