basefont=3>

Gravestones

Gravestones are the main thing a non-grieving visitor sees in cemeteries. Digging is out of the question for teachers and students--and normally for archaeologists too. What you and your students can do is study those gravestones. Below is a short sequence of gravestones showing how their decorations change over time. These were photographed in New England and range from the 17th century well into the 18th century--older than Brunswick. (Be patient while they load. These are fairly large so you can see some details of the inscriptions.)

Change is a universal in human culture. Have your students look for change over time in the shape and decoration and placement of gravestones in Brunswick.

This early 18th century gravestone in New England is the earliest in this series. It depicts a winged skull with bones crossed beneath.
This is also a winged skull with a suggestion of bones underneath.
On this stone, the skull has been transformed into an owl-like shape.


	This early 18th century gravestone in New England is the earliest in this series. It depicts a winged skull with bones crossed beneath.
This is also a winged skull with a suggestion of bones underneath.
	On this stone, the skull has been transformed into an owl-like shape.

The next gravestone page shows how these changes continued in the 18th century. It also tells you about a learning activity students can do in the cemetery. ÿ