Holocaust Archaeology: Using Ground Penetrating Radar to Locate a Jewish Mass Grave in Kaunas, Lithuania

A ground penetrating radar (GPR) survey at Fort VII in Kaunas, Lithuania has aided in locating a Jewish mass grave from the Holocaust. The discovery of human remains near the eastern wall of Fort VII prompted the Lithuanian government and Jewish Community to invite an international team of students, archaeologists and geophysicists to conduct GPR and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) surveys to determine the graves definite existence and size in July of 2017. Using 225 and 500 MHz antenna with a respective step size of 0.1m and 0.02m, two grids measuring 16m × 8m and 12m × 7m with lines spaced every quarter meter were collected on the suspected location of the mass grave. GPR datasets were processed using the GFP_Edit and EKKO_Project programs. Results showed the existence of a pit shaped feature measuring 10m × 8m at a depth of 0.2m to 0.8m in both of the grids. Analogous dimensions of the feature within the two collected grids coupled with historic data surrounding the grave's location and size, preliminary GPR investigation of the site is highly encouraging in determining the grave's parameters. This data can then be used to create a perimeter around the suspected location of the mass grave to ensure the grave will not be disturbed again in the future.