Cemeteries provide valuable clues for genealogy researchers. Depending on the culture, individuals may be buried in a grave or entombed in a mausoleum crypt, sarcophagus, or inurnment.
When researching a cemetery, it is important to look at individual graves, record the inscriptions, and cross-reference with records compiled by others. Compilation mistakes or omissions can often be traced by reading the original inscriptions.
History
Cemeteries have come a long way from being stinking, disease-ridden quagmires to park-like settings with gravestones and monuments. However, even today there are challenges.
For instance, locating living family members can be difficult to do after many years. Adding to the difficulty, a new generation of mourners are less likely to visit their loved ones’ graves or are choosing cremation over traditional burial. In addition, the use of technology has helped to streamline processes and save time. For example, using cloud-based software allows a cemetery to keep records digitally instead of in a physical book, which can be susceptible to damage. Additionally, the system allows for quick and easy navigation. This also helps to cut costs by streamlining the process for plot sales. This type of data can then be accessed by all employees at any location. Lastly, the system can serve as a backup to paper records. The first step in mapping a cemetery involves gathering the data necessary to create a flat visualization of all the graves and structures within. This may involve GPR technology to ensure there are no unmarked plots and accurate measurements. The map is then broken up into sections and lots.
Art
A headstone with the name of the dead person and a date of death is a common feature in a cemetery. The stonemason who carved the tombstone may have added symbolism or the family may have chosen a more elaborate design to display their wealth or social status.
In many cultures, the body of a deceased person was buried either in a grave, above ground in a tomb or sarcophagus, in a mausoleum or columbarium. Alternatively, the remains of the dead person can be cremated and interred in an urn, which can either be buried or displayed.
A cemetery is typically divided into sections. Sections are then subdivided into lots. This is the smallest unit of organization within the cemetery. It is then possible to identify a grave by referencing its lot number, such as “North Memorial Garden, Row 9, Space 2.” Using aerial images and existing maps, the cemetery landscape can be mapped. This process can be difficult because of the accuracy required to capture every grave and monument.
Grief
Many people experience grief when they lose a loved one. However, grief can also be experienced when a person experiences other significant losses, such as the loss of a job or a home.
People may express their grief in ways such as crying, avoiding reminders of the loss or feeling emotionally numb. They may have thoughts of self-harm or find it difficult to concentrate.
Grief is a normal response to a loss, and most people go through a process called mourning. Mourning is a public expression of the pain caused by a loss and is influenced by religious practices, cultures and beliefs.
Community
An online cemetery map gives staff the time and capacity to serve more customers and build a stronger community. It also preserves a cemetery’s history digitally and makes it accessible to the public.
A visit to a graveyard can reveal many details about the people who lived in that time and place. The shape and material of a stone, the inscriptions, and the general arrangement offer clues to their values, beliefs, and social standing. A careful observation with the eye of a detective may yield evidence about family connections, religions, technological knowledge, and artistic ideals.
Observe how sections are organized and what the smallest unit of organization is. This is the location of a specific grave site, such as North Memorial Garden, Section 9, Space 2 or Statue Honor Garden, Lot 5, Space 9. Often times, information about specific plots is spread across different maps and logbooks. This can be confusing for staff. A single map of a cemetery eliminates confusion, makes it easier to help families and ensures accuracy.