Page 48 - KBHA Bulletin 10
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New England by James Deetz has produced a classic example of changes in ideas about
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the meaning of death and the dead during the 17 to 19 centuries.
Between 1640 and 1760, the preferred headstone carried a picture of winged skulls or
heads with blank eyes. This form came out of the iconophobic Puritan tradition (one of
the more extreme reactions to the elaborate Catholic iconography), and the headstone is
a reminder of death and destruction. By 1760 this began to be replaced by a winged
cherub which reflected the new revivalist period known as The Great Awakening,
where “the individual was personally involved with the supernatural.” Subsequently, by
1800, an urn and willow design were prominent. (Fig. 2.1). The willow and urn pattern
was a reflection of a depersonalisation of the grave that went along with secularisation
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of religion at the beginning of the 19 century. The headstone became more of a
cenotaph, that might be used to commemorate a person’s achievements, and who might
be buried elsewhere. These changes were equally followed in England, only 50 years
before they occurred in New England. Colonies tend to be more conservative than the
motherland.
An inspection of burying grounds closer to home will also reveal changes in style of
tombstones, as well as differences in religion. A walk through Dido Valley cemetery at
Glencairn will show a spatial arrangement of religions: Protestant, Catholic, Muslim,
African, as well as a separate military graveyard. Headstones reflect cultural preferences
of different groups. A more uniform appearance, possibly a function of military
neatness, can be found at the Royal Navy “Old Burying Ground” in Simon’s Town,
where all ranks have similar slate markers. Each stone is engraved with the date and
ship to which the individual sailor was assigned at time of death. The mysterious name
“Krumen” is to be found in both the Dido Valley military section and in the Simon’s
Town graveyard. For information on who they were, visit the Simon’s Town Museum.
