Abstract
Geophysical methods have long been used to locate and map unmarked graves in cemeteries and burial spaces. Despite their prevalence, geophysical cemetery surveys can be extremely complex, particularly when dealing with historical-period cemeteries. Not only are there interpretive challenges from site formation processes and noncultural features, but there are also cultural challenges when seeking to study a cemetery within its historical context. Geophysical archaeology is a specialization that can guide this type of work by underscoring the cultural context for geophysical data. Beyond simply locating unmarked graves or other “anomalies,” geophysical archaeology emphasizes increasing the interpretive ability of geophysical data by situating these surveys in cultural theory. Using the example of the Fort Lewis military cemetery, which also served the Fort Lewis Indian Boarding School, in southwest Colorado, this paper highlights how geophysical archaeology was used to identify specific features about the cemetery, including the original fence line, number of likely graves, and two different burial contexts (casketed burials and exhumed graves).