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June 29, 2008 Cemeteries exude an aura of mystery that few other places can match, like magnets attracting the curious. Seekers of insights from the past and searchers for a peaceful place in an increasingly hectic world all notice the headstones and their myriad carvings and inscriptions and wonder what they mean. Unlocking that meaning has been a voyage of discovery through the history of symbolism. I am fascinated by the unique historical tidbits and the beauty and craft of the artwork. Few visitors have any idea that those carvings, and the stone itself, are a language unto themselves, sharing with the living many details about the deceased and their times. Local cemeteries can offer more enlightenment into the character and past of an area than a whole collection of tourist brochures. Visiting, photographing and studying cemeteries and their headstone carvings in many states from New England to the Southwest to the South reveals many similarities as well as regional differences. Time also shows a “vocabulary drift” in the symbolism and materials used. The oldest accessible North American cemeteries are in New England and New Mexico where people of European descent first colonized and have lived the longest. Many headstones in both areas date to the early 1700’sor earlier. Most other parts of the country were not settled until the early 1800’sor later. Finding the first burial plots in a region provides important historical clues to the settlement pattern. Headstones from the early colonial era(1700’s) in the Northeast are usually made of slate wherever it was available. This is a hard, dark colored stone that resists the growth of lichen and moss. These properties allow inscriptions to survive quite well, especially if the stones are maintained. These stones are usually quite thin, only a few inches thick, as slate is easily split into layers. They are also tall compared to more modern stones, often up to four feet high. Common symbolism during this period includes willow trees, winged heads and skulls and oil lamps. “Memento mori”, Latin for “remember you are mortal” or “remember you must die” is a common inscription. Weeping willow trees symbolize grief, death and earthly sorrow. Winged skulls and likenesses of the deceased represent the flight of the soul from mortal man. The lamp is the symbol of truth and knowledge. Rarely seen are swords signifying martyrdom or courage. These carvings and slate itself are seldom seen after the late1700’s. Overtly religious symbolism is rare during this time. The early 1800’s saw a switch to rough granite as the preferred material for headstones. These stones are much thicker and usually shorter. Rough granite is not as resistant to lichen and moss growth as slate and the longevity of the carvings and inscriptions suffer.Common symbolism expanded as populations increased and life became easier. Roses came to signify female beauty and condolence, with a broken -stemmed rose meaning a life cut short. Clasped hands symbolize the final good-bye and a hand pointing up is the confirmation of life after death. Doves stand for peace and innocence and lambs for children. A lily represents purity and resurrection while oak means strength and supernatural power. An hourglass symbolizes the passage of time and mortality. Eagles, single- or double-headed, usually denote a military person. Religious symbolism especially blossomed during this time. Christian crosses become popular, commonly combined with a crown to represent the sovereignty of Christ. Hands from above breaking a chain symbolize God taking a life too soon. Open gates, often with a risingstar, are the entrance to heaven and eternal life. Grapes signify the blood ofChrist. Anchors and shells are the symbols of the Christian voyage throughlife. Trumpets and bugles stand for the music of the angels. This symbolic language of headstone carvings continues to evolve in the present. New symbols are added and some fall out of favor. Materials also continue to evolve. Polishing the face of granite stones offered more resistance to the ravages of time. Choosing polished marble over granite became more popular as easy transportation and affluence increased through the years. Changes will continue as time goes on and I will continue to study them during my travels. ------------ About the author John Rivard: I am a writer/photographer and former chef living in Clearwater, Florida with a wide range of interests centered around photography, food, communication and personal awareness. My main creative outlet is a web site focused on helping people take better photos while in Florida. My photography is also sold through a major on-line stock agency. See more of my writing and photography at my web site: Florida Image Tools, and my stock photography at: BigStockPhoto Email: maxxpax9@hotmail.com Comment on this article here! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com. Please link to this article rather than copying and pasting it onto your site (which would be unauthorized and illegal). |
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