6 / OutdoorIllinois October 2007

Wherever they occur, these formal links to our past revealcultural identities and traditions.

Places of the Past: Reading and Understanding CemeteriesStory and Photos By Hal Hassen

Scattered throughout rural Illinois,cemeteries are visual remindersof our past. Almost all communi-ties contain cemeteries. In addi-tion, travelers of back roads fre-quently observe isolated ceme-teries located some distancefrom today’s communities orchurches. These locations

reflect an evolving rural landscape. Forexample, regional economic develop-ment and shifts in population may haveresulted in changes to the transportationsystem. New roads were developed andold roads were abandoned. Conse-

quently, some early cemeteries may besituated along now-abandoned roads.

Not just places to put the dead or sta-tic snapshots of older views and atti-tudes about death, all cemeteries con-tain social and cultural values reflectingspecific choices and therefore provide

insight into how people structured andorganized their social and physical land-scape. Cemeteries are dynamic, reflect-ing changing cultural institutions, socialvalues and regional ethnic composition.

Cemetery gravemarkers tell us notonly about the individual who died, their

Variation in headstone shape and

inscription is frequently a matter of

choice and reflects values of those

who make the selection.

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placement and appearance (raw materi-al, inscriptions and motifs) providesinformation about the society fromwhich the individual has departed. Forexample, 19th century changes ingravemarker motifs reflect varying atti-tudes toward death, from harsh andcruel to sentimental and spiritual.

Cemeteries and gravemarkers are afocus of study for art historians, archi-tects, folklorists, cultural geographers,archaeologists, anthropologists andhistorians. Increasingly, cemetery stud-ies are the focus of amateurs search-ing for ancestors, or individuals with aninterest in learning about the past orunderstanding the rituals of death. Inparticular, it is the participation ofthese latter two groups that will beinstrumental in saving cemeteries forfuture generations.

When cemeteries are ignored andallowed to deteriorate and gravemark-ers are damaged or destroyed, soci-eties lose information that is an impor-tant part of ourselves. School childrenwho become familiar with the informa-tion contained in cemeteries are lesslikely to vandalize cemeteries. Adultswho appreciate cemeteries are morelikely to support preservation efforts.By documenting, preserving and publi-cizing cemeteries, it is hoped thatfuture generations will use this infor-mation to learn about the past andsupport preservation efforts.

B y taking the time to look and learnone can come away with a better

understanding of the cemetery. Stu-dents of all ages can explore cemeteriesto develop a better understanding oftheir geography, anthropology, math,genealogy, biology, history and lan-guage arts. As you observe more ceme-teries, the variations you see becomemore meaningful.

1. Note the relationship of the cemeteryto the surrounding landscape. Is it on ahill, along a road, in the woods, etc.?2. Walk around and become familiarwith the cemetery landscape. Note thevegetation, paths, fences, etc. How arethe gravestones and other landscapefeatures arranged?3. Make a map the cemetery. Pace thedistances between stones and otherfeatures. Use a compass to determinedirection. What direction are the head-stones facing?4. For each headstone, document thefollowing: shape, material (limestone,marble, granite), date of birth, date ofdeath, age, type of symbol (willow tree,urn, hand, etc), epitaph and name ofstone carver.5. Create a map of the cemetery byindividual decades to view the changesthrough time. When did different familiesand symbols enter the cemetery?6. What is the earliest and latest deathdate recorded?7. Write down five epitaphs and recordif the epitaph is for a child or adult.8. Record any county or country of ori-gin listed on headstones.9. Note any foreign languages writtenon the headstones.

For more information on how to studya cemetery and the different things

that may be learned, read “Your Guideto Cemetery Research” by SharonDeBartlo Carmack or visit www.gravestonestudies.org or www.vintageviews.org/vv-tl/pages/Cem_Symbolism.htm.

Dr. Hal Hassen is the DNR culturalresource coordinator and can bereached at (217) 524-3759.

During the nineteenth century,

cemetery locations varied but

frequently were placed on the

highest ground near streams.

Cemeteries provide excellent

opportunities to view older

trees that have grown with little

competition from other plants.