Berks County, one of the oldest counties in Pennsylvania, was founded on March 11, 1752. With a rich Pennsylvania-Dutch heritage and over 250 years of history, this region predates the Revolutionary War and contains numerous Colonial era cemeteries. The BCAGP (Berks County Association for Graveyard Preservation) believes in preserving the history of the region through restoration and maintenance of the more than 300 historic gravesites in the county.  Several of these sites are in a state of disrepair as time has taken its toll on the headstones and other surface features.  Misplaced grave markers, cemetery walls that have fallen or been torn down leaving the boundaries of the cemeteries in question, and unmarked burials are problems that the BCAGP works to overcome. 

Kayla Lazer operates the GPR at the Schlegel Cemetery

Kayla Lazer operates the Magnetometer at the Schlegel Cemetery

Geophysical investigations were utilized to assist the association at the Schlegel Cemetery in the Borough of Fleetwood.  This historic burial ground has several grave markers, but is believed to contain many more burials than the markers indicate.  The cemetery once had a stone wall surrounding it, but that wall has been replaced by a metal fence.  Magnetometer and GPR surveys were performed at this site to assist the BCAGP in cemetery restoration.  Multiple potential burials and sections of the foundation of the stone wall were identified through the geophysical survey data analysis.