Geophysical Surveys at the West End Cemetery, Townsville: An Application of Three Techniques

Abstract

Geophysical surveys were undertaken at Townsville’s West End Cemetery to examine the cultural and/or ethnic association of graves and to test the potential use of different forms of geophysical prospection on archaeological sites in north Queensland environments. Surveys focused on an area of the cemetery known as ‘E Block’, which contained little physical or historical evidence for burials but was believed to have been used for the interment of ‘non-Christian’ individuals. While results from the resistivity and ground penetrating radar surveys were inconclusive, the magnetometry surveys located the graves of 65 individuals. Details on each individual’s cultural attributes derived from the cemetery’s burial register indicated that they were from a diverse range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds, many of which were previously unrepresented amongst extant grave markers. Results provided information that could not be gained from any other source, and enabled the critical examination of aspects of the cemetery including the past management regime, the spatial patterning of graves and whether or not an individual’s ethnic, social or economic characteristics contributed to their spatial placement.