A Tale Of Two Pandemics: Comparing Disrupted Mortuary Practices From 1918 And 2020

Summary

This is a poster submission presented at the 2021 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

The rituals surrounding the deaths of loved ones are of paramount importance when grieving. Mortuary practices, such as congregating with loved ones, professional preparation of the body, and the memorial or graveside service, are important in informing not only the present, but the future in regards to how mass deaths are treated in times of pandemics. Comparing the funeral regulations of the deceased from the 1918 Spanish Influenza, set by public health authorities, to the current COVID-19 pandemic, set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, helps us understand how the public reacts to disrupted rites of passage during pandemics. Interviews with funeral directors and individuals who have dealt with death during COVID-19 along with literature reviews of the 1918 pandemic can provide an understanding of how an appearance of pandemic-level sickness affects mortuary and funerary practices.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• 2021 SHA Poster Submissions   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2021

Keywords

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology