HANOVER, Va. (WWBT/Gray News ) – Archaeologists enlist the help of a “archaeologist” named Abby to identify unmarked graves in Virginia.

Abby is a six-year-old chocolate lab trained to sniff out centuries-old human remains.

The National Park Service hired Abby Martin Archeological consultant to help find a hidden cemetery in Richmond National Battlefield Park.

The owner and chief archaeologist for the company, Paul Martin, travels all over the country with Abby doing this type of work.

“She’s traveled,” Martin said. “She is really my fourth dog that has specialized in discovering ancient archaeological human remains.”

The Hanover property, also known as Rural Plains, is a 125-acre farm that belonged to the Shelton family for 300 years.

“A lot of history,” Richmond National Battlefield archaeologist Lexie Lowe said. “It is alleged that Patrick Henry married Sarah Shelton in the front room on the first floor of this house.”

Archaeologists believe enslaved people who worked for the family are buried on the grounds, but they don’t know exactly where or how many.

“We’re looking for unmarked cemeteries that might be associated with the enslaved people who lived here and worked here on the Shelton plantation,” Lowe said.

It takes a special approach to cover so much ground.

“We’re always looking for creative and innovative ways to do the work we need to do, especially when you’re covering large areas of land,” Lowe said.

Abby is specially trained.

“She’s actually looking for odors that are released from chemical compounds that are produced during the decomposition process,” Martin said. “We’ve managed to find remains that are up to 2,000 years old here in the southeastern United States.”

When Abby marks a scent, she sits at the location and Martin records the GPS data.

Abby is then rewarded with praise and treats, as well as her favorite squawking duck.

“We came in with ground-penetrating radar and have collected it, processed it, and it appears they’ve found some burials,” Martin said.

The duo is on their second visit to the Richmond National Battlefield since last summer and is using more technology to locate their findings.

“We’ll be recording it with an RTK GPS system that will give us accuracy down to two centimeters,” Martin said.

“We’re very excited to see what data Paul can give us and how it can help us do more in-depth research, genealogical history of the people who lived here and worked here, and down the road, how we can better interpret these landscapes because these are sacred spaces,” Lowe said.

The National Park Service says that once the unmarked graves are identified, the plan is to protect and honor the space. There will be no excavations.

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