The Living and the Dead: New Interpretations of Above- and Below-Ground Cultural Historical Archaeology
Part of: Society for Historical Archaeology 2025
This collection contains the abstracts of the papers presented in the session entitled "The Living and the Dead: New Interpretations of Above- and Below-Ground Cultural Historical Archaeology," at the 2025 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.
New Orleans is famous for its historic cemeteries, so it is appropriate to consider new research in the cultural aspects of mortuary archaeology at this conference. This symposium brings together active CRM and academic researchers to share regional and national perspectives and methodologies related to the cultural aspects of mortuary culture (not human remains) above and below ground. Often augmented by documentary sources which provide both complementary and contrasting evidence to the material remains mortuary studies provide insights into personal and group identities, socio-cultural processes, and the practices of body management and disposal. Some burial grounds are forgotten, recovered through archaeological investigation, but others remain important in contemporary society, as with the New Orleans cemeteries. This symposium will offer those working on historic mortuary archaeology the opportunity to share experience and expertise so that this aspect of historical archaeology can continue to develop and contribute to wider debates.
Other Keywords
Cemeteries •
Industrial Archaeology •
Graves •
Children •
Grave Markers •
landscapes •
Identity •
Digital •
Burial Grounds •
Temporalities
Geographic Keywords
Mid-Atlantic •
PORTUGAL •
United Kingdom •
Southeast United States
Resources Inside This Collection (Viewing 1-4 of 4)
- Documents (4)
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Cast Iron Memories: Production and distribution of cast iron grave markers in Great Britain (2025)
DOCUMENT Citation Only
This is an abstract from the session entitled "The Living and the Dead: New Interpretations of Above- and Below-Ground Cultural Historical Archaeology", at the 2025 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology. The production of cast iron grave markers commences in the 17th century in England, but becomes much more common in the later 19th and early 20th centuries. This paper reveals some of the contents of a newly-accessed archive of cast iron grave marker records compiled by...
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"A Historic Place of Peace and Reflection": A Critical Analysis of Digital Methods in the Recovery of Forgotten Black Cemeteries (2025)
DOCUMENT Citation Only
This is an abstract from the session entitled "The Living and the Dead: New Interpretations of Above- and Below-Ground Cultural Historical Archaeology", at the 2025 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology. Digital technology can be a useful tool for archaeologists to digitally preserve the current state of mortuary landscapes and can also be a useful tool for public engagement to raise awareness about these marginalized sites, their histories, and the environmental dangers...
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Innocence and Remembrance: A Study of Children's Tombs in Portugal's Historic Cemeteries (2025)
DOCUMENT Citation Only
This is an abstract from the session entitled "The Living and the Dead: New Interpretations of Above- and Below-Ground Cultural Historical Archaeology", at the 2025 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology. This study examines the distinct characteristics of children's tombs and graves in Portuguese cemeteries from the 19th and 20th centuries, focusing on differences in architecture, decoration, and epitaphs. The research highlights how children's graves often feature unique...
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Temporal Tourists and the Colonization of Time: Spatiotemporal Identities in Late 19th and Early 20th-Century New Jersey (2025)
DOCUMENT Citation Only
This is an abstract from the session entitled "The Living and the Dead: New Interpretations of Above- and Below-Ground Cultural Historical Archaeology", at the 2025 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology. Landscapes are wrought into existence by the values humans apply to them. Reciprocally, the spaces we occupy, travel to, and through craft social identities. This paper investigates the relationship between temporalities and landscapes and the implications for people...