Members of the community are uncovering the history at the Mahoning Pioneer Cemetery. Some of the graves date back to 1804. In those 220 years, some of it's history has been lost

The Trumbull County Historical Society is working with YSU to find unmarked graves. Around 360 people are buried at the cemetery, but some of the headstones are buried or covered. 

As part of a project to beautify and uncover the history of the Old Mahoning Pioneer Cemetery, YSU Anthropology professor Matt O'Mansky is locating and marking all the headstones at the cemetery.

According to Kate Pfouts, an archivist at the Trumbull County Historical Society, a lot of early pioneers and settlers of Warren are buried at the Old Pioneer Cemetery.

Since the cemetery hasn't been used since 1897, O'Mansky is using Ground Penetrating Radar to uncover buried or hidden headstones. All of the headstones found will be marked.

GPR identifies dense areas underground. This is not only used by anthropologists, but also is used in many other fields. 

"It's used on law enforcement, cold cases, if there might be a body in the field or something, this will go out. It's used oftentimes in construction projects, in alternative energy," said O'Mansky.

All the information gathered by the Trumbull County Historical Society will go on an online database open to the public. The society received multiple grants for this project, and is looking for more information to include in the database.

The project will help preserve history and create a clearer understanding of Warren's heritage.

"We want to get the community interested in the cemetery again rather than it being stowed away, you know forgotten about," said India Gatts, intern with the Trumbull County Historical Society.  

O'Mansky and his students plan to return later in the summer to continue the search.

The Trumbull Historical Society is looking for volunteers to help with the project.