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Kimberly's Genealogy Blog

By Kimberly Powell, About.com Guide to Genealogy since 2000

Symbolism in the Cemetery

Tuesday July 7, 2009
Numerous symbols decorate the tombstone of Isaac Griswold in the Old Cemetery in Benson, Vermont. Photo by Kimberly Powell.Have you ever wandered through a cemetery and wondered about the meanings of the designs carved on old gravestones? While we can only speculate what our ancestors were trying to tell us through their choice of tombstone art, you can explore the meanings and interpretation of tombstone symbols commonly agreed upon by gravestone scholars in this photo tour of tombstone symbols and engravings.

Comments

July 10, 2009 at 5:07 pm
(1) Donna Messerly says:

I really love to wander through old cemeteries and look at the carvings. The love and care with which some of them were made is so evident in the details. There’s a great historic cemetery in Parowan, Utah. That cemetery has a walking tour on tape. It’s amazing. Thanks for the information.

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