The Paradise of Memory: Florida's Historic Cemeteries

Summary

Nowhere else in our society are we as cognizant of the cultural landscape of our communities as in our historic cemeteries. Burying grounds are not merely components of a community’s physical landscape, but they also reflect the community over time. Markers and monuments are often the only structures that survive as physical testaments to individuals. Florida’s cemeteries are the repositories of last statements and speak to both the individual and collective cultural makeup of the communities with which they are associated. Florida’s early cemeteries reflect changing cultural mores, access to materials and artisans, and patterns of trade. This paper explores the transitions and trends seen in cemeteries associated with the colonial, territorial, statehood, and antebellum periods in Florida.  It is a perspective focused on the influences of religion, regional and world events, literature, and architecture as expressed in masonry.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Paper / Report Submission (General Sessions) 2018   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2018

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 1047