A soldier in the Revolutionary War, Col. Matthew Smith died more than 200 years ago. Now, 体育买球官网 University is helping a historical society locate his unmarked grave among others.

Ahmed Lachhab, associate professor of earth & environmental sciences, and two of his students are using ground-penetrating radar to identify long-lost graves that have been hidden beneath the ground for centuries at the Historic Warrior Run Church, which has served as a final resting place for community members and veterans from the Revolutionary, Civil and Mexican wars and the War of 1812.

Smith served with Benedict Arnold — yes, the guy from Hamilton — during a historically brutal march to Quebec. Smith later settled in central Pennsylvania and is known to be buried in the cemetery at the Historic Warrior Run Church. Here, Lachhab is using the tools of his trade — drone photogrammetry and GPR— to detect disturbances in the soil that may indicate a grave. Though he is only a few weeks into work that will take a couple of years, his early findings are surprising.

“We have found at least 11 to 12 graves so far,” Lachhab said. “I’m kind of shocked and surprised.”

As a geophysicist, Lachhab normally uses GPR to determine the volume of water and sediment deposits in lakes and man-made reservoirs. He also uses the equipment to assist in the uncovering of ancient building foundations and in the conservation of ancient mosaics in Morocco.

Interest in identifying unmarked graves intensified in 2024 when the Shikelimo Daughters of the American Revolution, Tiadaghton Sons of the American Revolution and the Warrior Run Heritage Society partnered to install a monument honoring veterans buried there. During preparations for the monument, workers encountered something underground. Work stopped and the heritage society contacted Lachhab, who has done similar work for other local churches.

“Seeing our progress at the cemetery and finding anomalies has been really exciting,” said Jasmine Aguirre ’27, an earth & environmental sciences major who is assisting Lachhab with his work. “I’m glad to be part of something that can help uncover hidden histories while honoring those who came before us. It gives the community a chance to reconnect with their past.”

Whether any of the graves found thus far belong to Col. Matthew Smith is a question for another day, Lachhab said.

“I consider this 体育买球官网 aiding the community,” he said. “I cannot answer all of the questions yet, but I can find the graves. That’s the first step.”