Ground Penetrating Radar Survey 2 TBA

A complete grid ground penetrating radar survey has been scheduled for 7-8 October 2004 to produce a comprehensive remote profile of the underlying strata of what is now called Pioneer Park. Approximately two (2) acres will be surveyed to pinpoint actual grave locations.
Each identified radar anomaly (grave site) will be fixed with latitude and longitude coordinates as the survey progresses. A ground station will be used to triangulate mobile GPS units to the greatest accuracy possible.
The resulting GPS waypoints will be projected (WGS 84, Idaho West) over high resolution aerial photographs of the park to produce a visual catalogue.
A request was made to photograph the site during the winter of 2003-2004 with QuickBird 2 to create a base image without foliage, since many of the grave positions would be obscured in current aerial images.

2003 Avista aerial

PHASE 6

A request was made to the City of Lewiston to gain approval for a supervised exhumation of at least one (1) "positive" grave site in the park, if such a site can be determined and agreed to by the entities involved at this stage. This request was based on state statutes allowing for exhumations in situations where a cemetery is to be moved to allow for development, thereby partially completing the work not finished more than 110 years ago. This exhumation will be under the control of the National Park Service, the University of Idaho, the Nez Perce County Coroner's Office and Vassar-Rawls Funeral Home. The exhumation would be scheduled for October - November 2004. For a copy of the draft "white paper" to obtain necessary permission to conduct the abovementioned exhumation, click here. Subsequent to the radar surveys shown above, the City of Lewiston has agreed to archaeological examinations of Grid 4.
A permanent monument will be placed to commemorate the park's role as a cemetery.