The GPR investigation of the Shakespeare family graves

Abstract

As part of a multi‐disciplinary programme of archaeological investigation, GPR was used to investigate the Shakespeare family graves below the chancel of Holy Trinity Church in Stratford, Warwickshire, England. Although William Shakespeare's place as perhaps one of the most famous individuals who has ever lived has been cemented in the annals of history, much of his life and death is still shrouded in mystery. As a result, a large number of myths and legends have grown up around his burial place. These included the suggestion of an unusually deep burial or the presence of a large family crypt beneath the chancel floor. A series of multi‐frequency surveys was carried out to establish the depth and structure of the graves and as much burial information as possible. Close survey (using a strategy developed and successfully applied in Westminster Abbey and other churches) was used in order to optimise the quality of patterning in the data. Within Holy Trinity, this strategy was validated by the detection of a known vault. The use of multiple frequencies was critical in this investigation in order both to detect the graves and also to establish information about the graves. Too low a frequency may result in non‐detection because of the relatively low target resolution whereas too high a frequency risks insufficient depth penetration. From this process a number of myths can now be discounted, including the presence of a large Shakespeare family vault or crypt. Instead, the GPR survey suggests that a simple, shallow, earth‐cut burial lies beneath William's tombstone. One story however concerning disturbance of William Shakespeare's grave in order to remove his skull does correspond with the evidence.

A methodology for the self‐training and self‐assessing of new GPR practitioners: Measuring diagnostic proficiency illustrated by a case study of a historic African‐American cemetery for unmarked graves

“…Others have opted to monitored controlled graves with pig cadavers (e.g., Schultz et al, 2016), but these studies have more applicability to forensic graves than historic ones due to the difference between these relatively short (<5 year long) studies and the longer burial times of historic graves. More recently, some researchers have conducted surveys using multiple frequencies, for example, Utsi and Colls (2017), who discovered the importance of a comparative approach between maps made using different frequencies in precisely determining depths. Others have been working to automate the interpretation process using object-based image analysis (e.g., Cornett & Ernenwein, 2020), though this technique was applied therein to buried hearths and not to graves.…”

Ground penetrating radar investigation and georeferencing without global satellite navigation systems: The case history of the amphitheatre of Lecce, Italy

“…The results, in fact, can reveal hidden parts of the historical structures and can pre‐advice about possible stability problems for the monument, that possibly involve safety issues for people. In particular, these investigations have allowed to identify graves (Persico et al., 2019; Utsi & Colls, 2017), to characterize voids (Persico et al., 2014, 2019) or walled features (Gabellone et al., 2013; Geraldi et al., 2016), to highlight structural problems (Francisco et al., 2021) and so on. Thanks to the depth slices (Goodoman & Piro, 2013), maps of an underground (or intra‐wall) scenario, possibly at different depths, can be achieved.…”

Multi-Frequency GPR Data Fusion with Genetic Algorithms for Archaeological Prospection

“…According to the propagation characteristics of the EM wave, higherfrequency GPR signals offer higher resolution while lower-frequency GPR signals offer greater depth of penetration. In order to avoid limitations in imaging, multi-frequency GPR systems are often used for complicated subsurface archaeological conditions [4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. Particularly, GPR mappings for reconstruction of ancient landscapes associated with archaeological sites in a sequence stratigraphic context require a deeper sedimentary record as well as enhanced high-resolution shallow imaging [11,12].…”