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Wednesday, 05 September 2007 |
Aschermann E-Mail |
Designed for
Wales
College professors have some strange habits and ideas. One of the things that I do when I am in a new place is try and find an older cemetery. The cemetery can tell us so much about the community and the culture of the region.
Side Bar: Academic people like to invent words that few people really know. So, here is the new word for the day
Necrogeography: from Greek "nekros" for dead body. The study of the regionality of burial practices. From the observation of various aspects in a cemetery we can begin to see definite geographic or regional patterns. If you are really intrigued now, sometime visit the following:
Using a Cemetery to Learn about the Community
The above webpages are among the first that were done or during the "dark ages" of the internet and webpages. The design for the pages leaves something to be desired. Also, there will probably be some broken links.
In Wales I had the opportunity to visit two cemeteries. As you look at the photos below, what can you see that you are familiar with? Anything different from what you have seen in the US or on the above pages about cemeteries around the world.?
Click on the images below to increase the size.
Wiggle the mouse to reveal the image located in the bottom right corner above. Click on the image and the slide will become larger. The image size will probably be so large that you will have to adjust the screen slider on the bottom and right side of most screens.
Above from the 1820 era. Have you seen this configuration or style of burial chamber in your part of North America?
Have you seen a cross design as we see on the left side?
Enlarge the above image and then click on the bottom right corner so that you can read the words on this grave stone. What is the significance of this particular stone? Below is the house and the formal garden that was shared with the person of the above grave stone.
Depending of the order that you are looking at the Wales webpages, the above marker introduces you to something that is very significant for this part of the United Kingdom or the British Isles. What marks the significance? Would you see the same thing in North America?
The next three images have symbolism. What do you see that is being used as a symbol? Which of these might you find in North America?
What comes to mind when you read the inscriptions on the two stones above?
The inscription on the above needs some interpretation. What comes to mind?
The above stone has something that is very symbolic of many grave sites in Europe and North America. What is it and what is it symbolic of?
What is the historical significance of the above stones?
What are the above stones telling the visitor? What is the significance of the symbolism?
What have you see above that you recognize as having seen "it" in a North American cemetery? What have you seen that probably suggest to you that were not in the United States?
I do not recall seeing in Russia or Germany a section of the cemetery that has the same purpose as below. The section may have been in Germany and Moscow--- I just did not see it. Most Northern American cemeteries will have a section like below.
A cemetery can make a very strong statement about the people of a geographic region and culture.
Look on the left margin. What will be the next Wales webpage that you will look at?
