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City will fund 500 markers for unmarked graves after radar survey, commission says
Summary
Historic preservation staff reported council increased the HLC budget and that ground‑penetrating radar identified roughly 500 unmarked graves; the commission agreed to use part of its budget to buy 500 metal marker spikes to mark and map those sites to prevent disturbance.
The Mansfield Landmark Commission heard Wednesday that recent ground‑penetrating radar work at the city’s historic cemeteries identified roughly 500 potential unmarked graves, and commissioners approved using part of their budget to purchase 500 small metal markers to identify and map those locations.
Historic preservation staff said the Mansfield Cemetery and Mansfield Community Cemetery hired a firm to survey burial areas and that the radar results turned up about 500 "hits" without headstones. Council increased the commission’s budget from $16,000 to $21,000, and staff said they will allocate funds to pay for the metal spike markers with plates so the cemetery caretakers can avoid disturbing those spots during maintenance and future burials.
"We have just contributed to the preservation of 500 unmarked graves that will now be mapped," the historic preservation officer said, noting the markers are a pragmatic way to protect burial sites without installing headstones. Staff described the markers as small metal spikes with a plate, not full headstones.
The commission encouraged volunteers to help install the markers at a planned Saturday work session at 9:00 a.m. and said the markers will also aid genealogical research by giving the cemetery groups locations to cross‑reference with old maps and records.
Staff cautioned that ground‑penetrating radar is an indicator rather than absolute proof of burials and that archaeological excavation would be the only precise verification method; however, staff said the markers would reduce the risk of inadvertent disturbance while further research proceeds.
