Gravestone Art: Stories Fixed in Stone

When interpreting graveyard art, a gravestone interpreter must take into account the other symbols provided on the headstone and the era the headstone was erected in. For example, if the interpreter were to discover a headstone with the icons of a ship and an anchor dated around 1870, it would be quite possible to translate the icons as indicating an individual of a seafaring profession. In fact, sometimes and individual is characterized on their headstone by their professional title when they die (i.e. Captain). All of these clues put together paint a rather clear picture of the individual that the headstone represents.

Conversely, if a newer headstone were discovered, one erected around 1990 with only a ship and no other icons, an interpreter may be lead to the wrong conclusion about the symbolism suggested by the carving. Questions like these could be further investigated in local libraries and through town records, however, it is important to recognize that not all questions can be easily answered, and some questions may remain unanswered due to poor historical documentation.

American gravestones and their icons exhibit vast changes in our somewhat short history. In fact gravestones and their art have evolved from the extremely simplistic to the ultra-stylish. Thus, it becomes easy to identify the significant differences between earlier headstones and headstones of today. Headstones of yesteryear display the religious concepts that the United States was founded on, the Puritan ideal of simplicity. Headstones of today reflect "The American Melting Pot," each headstone as unique as each American, displaying the diversity of the American people.

Cemeteries are equivalent to treasures to history hunters and it is unfortunate that many of today's cemeteries are falling into ruin. Constant exposure to natural elements, erosion, neglect, and desecration, are devastating the quality of the gravestones that stand at bits of history. Despite the gallant attempts of many people to save these historical monuments, many of these issues go unresolved or ignored completely, leading to the ultimate ruin of historical treasures.

More communities need to realize the importance of cemeteries. Communities should cherish the historical value that their local cemeteries provide. An exploration of cemeteries can teach our generation and generations to come about their ancestors, heritage, and their traditions. Additionally, people need to realize and discover that cemeteries and their contents are not a place of morbidity; they are a place of exploration and learning.

For further reading, we have compiled a

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