Cemeteries and Gravestone Carving - PowerPoint Presentation Example

We can identify the deceased gender, age, and race. The design for the gravestone on Slide #1, 1752, was normally used, in Massachusetts, to mark the graves of children (Deetz, 1996). This does not necessarily mean that the person buried in that grave, but it may mean that whoever chose the design may have considered or thought of that person as a child. To this day, this design continues to be used in some parts of Massachusetts. The outline of this gravestone is smooth, and round-shouldered outline, which is in great contrast to modern gravestones, which have square shoulders. This gravestone indicates that the design was of the 1750-1789 era (Deetz, 1996).

The gravestone on Slide #4, 1768, indicates a design of the 1760-1809 eras. The epitaph, a cherub carved in stone stresses that the buried is expected to resurrect, and later heavenly reward (Deetz, 1996). Additionally, it symbolizes the social status of the one buried beneath, often, marking a resting place for individuals of high status in society (Edwin S. Dethlefsen & Jensen, 1977). This gravestone carving utilized one of the earliest carving designs, the winged death head with a grinning visage and blank eyes. The death’s-head graphic also served as a reminder of death and the possibility of later resurrection. This gives an idea of the gravestone’s origin, which in this case is Connecticut. The epitaph is in contrast to the current engravings on gravestones, it states, “Here lies…,” which has since been replaced by “Sacred to the…, or In Memory…” (Deetz, 1996). The outline of this gravestone is smooth, and round-shouldered outline, which is in great contrast to modern gravestones, which have square shoulders.