Michael,
 
Core samplers can be pretty useful if you have a good idea where and what
you're looking for, especially if you have some experience "reading" the
split spoon. As to depth, it is my experience that graves are RARELY
anywhere near six feet down, and child or baby burials are typically quite
shallow. Just be careful and you probably won't do any harm. I would
suggest that once you think you've identified a grave, shovel a narrow
trench (through plowzone or humus only) across it. That should give you
edges, and confirmation of what you're looking at. And you won't even have
to dirty a couple of coathangers.
 
Dan
 
On Thu, 29 May 1997, Michael LaRonge wrote:
 
>      I have been following the line of thought on the location of
> unmarked graves and I have afew questions.  I have recently found a
> historic grave, probably a family cemetary, marked with a single stone
> indicating only the families name no dates.  Dowsing aside I am
> wondering if probing with a core sampler within the first 10cm would be
> a inexpensive alternative to ground penetrating radar.  This also ties
> into my next question, we have reason to believe it is European infants
> grave.  I am aware that it was common practice in early European
> settlment to bury especially young children near the family home, but
> does that mean that the hard and fast rule of six feet under might not
> necessarily apply and therfore make probing detremental to site
> integrety?  I would appreciate any information on burials I can get, but
> more specifically infant burials.
>                                    Thanks Michael LaRonge
>