Theses and Dissertations
The Silent Grave: A geophysical investigation of the Brush Arbor Cemetery in Starkville, Mississippi
Issuing Body
Mississippi State University
Advisor
Miller, Darcy Shane
Committee Member
Lambert, Shawn
Committee Member
Hunter, Christopher
Committee Member
Zuckerman, Molly K.
Date of Degree
5-12-2023
Document Type
Graduate Thesis - Open Access
Major
Applied Anthropology
Degree Name
Master of Arts (M.A.)
College
College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures
Abstract
The Brush Arbor Cemetery is an early-to-late 19th century Black cemetery that was also the meeting place of one of the first Black church congregations in Starkville, Mississippi. The cemetery has suffered greatly from structural violence and degradation. Utilizing Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), this research has revealed important information about the Brush Arbor Cemetery. The results of the GPR survey suggest there are 54 potential unmarked burials in addition to 35 marked burials. The Viewshed analysis suggests that the likely meeting place of the church congregation is in complete view of the white Odd Fellows Cemetery directly across the street. The Nearest Neighbor Index shows that the remaining headstones are randomly distributed throughout the property, but that the vandalism of these headstones are dispersed indicating that vandals target undamaged headstones on the property. Although this research recognizes the structural violence that has taken place at the Brush Arbor Cemetery it also highlights the ongoing vandalism that continues to transpire on this landscape.
Recommended Citation
Rayburn, Kathryn Cassidy Jean, "The Silent Grave: A geophysical investigation of the Brush Arbor Cemetery in Starkville, Mississippi" (2023). Theses and Dissertations. 5789.
https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/td/5789