A graveyard is a place where the mortal remains of people are buried. Generally, they are located adjacent to a place of worship.
Traditionally, churches were responsible for burials and only allowed church members to be buried on their grounds. As these church-associated graveyards ran out of space, independent cemeteries were created.
Symbolism
Symbols, from angels to shells, books to wheels, and more, appear on headstones. Some, like the torch, are easy to understand – it’s a Christian symbol that stands for eternal life. Others are more complicated.
Hands are often carved into tombstones, indicating a deceased person’s relationships with other people or with God. A palm facing upward is a sign of hope; two hands clasped symbolize holy matrimony. The upraised palm of one hand may be a sign of blessing, or it could show Masonic affiliation. The upraised hand of one hand with the four fingers positioned as if to hold a Bible is a gesture used to indicate that the deceased was a Cohen (temple priest).
Flowers, such as roses and calla lilies, represent beauty and fidelity. Laurel, which is commonly carved into gravestones, represents spiritual victory and success. A skull and cross bones is a Memento Mori, reminding the living that they too will die. Winged skulls developed out of this, showing a soul ascending to heaven.
History
Although people often use the terms graveyard and cemetery interchangeably, there is a difference between the two. The word graveyard is older and refers to a burial ground that adjoins a church, while cemetery is more modern and generally used to describe any burial site that is not associated with a specific place of worship.
Graveyards were once commonplace in towns and cities. In addition to being a resting place for the faithful, they also provided a spot for poorer families to compete with one another in the size and artistic detail of their headstones.
Unfortunately, over time graveyards came to be seen as a location of superstition and legend, with graves being used as altars for witchcraft ceremonies, devil worshipping, grave-robbing (often for gold teeth or jewelry), thrilling sex encounters and other clandestine happenings. Even today, graveyards are considered to be haunted and have a reputation for being a dangerous place. This is why it is recommended to stay away from them, at least at night.
Maintenance
Most graveyards have a team of workers who maintain the grounds, but families are responsible for the care and maintenance of individual plots. A good starting point is to clean the grounds of any debris that has blown in, such as trash, branches or twigs, and weeds.
Once the site has been cleaned, a field survey sheet should be completed for each grave to record details of condition, including accurate inscriptions. If possible, the information should be stored electronically to reduce the risk of damage or loss of data.
A conservation architect or monumental mason should be consulted for any work that is likely to affect grave-markers. If the graveyard contains war memorials or other structures designated as Scheduled Ancient Monuments or sites of special scientific interest, formal consents may be required. An ecologist should also be consulted to advise on the impact of planned landscape changes on plant and animal habitats within the graveyard.
Location
Many people use the words graveyard and cemetery interchangeably today, but historically, the two were not so close in meaning. A graveyard is a place where bodies are buried, whereas a cemetery is a burial ground that is not on church grounds or in the vicinity of a church. They can also differ in size, location, religion, and headstone requirements.
A graveyard is a collection of graves, usually maintained by the local church or government. The earliest graveyards began with mass burials, as opposed to the individual burials that are the norm now. These early graveyards were often located outside of town walls, or on the outskirts of city streets. Cemeteries, on the other hand, were built after graveyards became obsolete. They are typically more organized than their forebears.
In ESO, the Graveyard Fields overlook is a popular hiking area with a beautiful view. In the lower city, it is north of the Elfsong Tavern and the Forge of the Nine. The party may find the NPC Nina Dortmell in the graveyard trying to resurrect her dead brother. The party may help her, which spawns 3 Zombies and 2 Greater Zombies.