Monument Analysis

My group members Arrianna D'Orsay, Ian Weekes and myself studied grave markers at Ross Bay Cemetery with an emphasis on markers ranging from the 1800 to early 1900 and on ornate crosses. our group questions are as follows:

1. What might the ornamentation and style of these cross grave markers reveal about the identity of the deceased?
2. Within the different religious areas, how does cross ornamentation and style vary? What might be the reason for the differences?
3. How is gender depicted on cross grave monuments? Differences?


     To answer the first two questions, I found that the ornamentations and styles of cross grave markers were a result of the deceased's religious orientation. however I am not skilled in the artistic styles of each religious section and thus I believe to further answer both questions further research should be undertaken. Generally I saw that in the Presbyterian section, the crosses  were very simple with little or no engravings or ornamentation. The General portion that my group and I looked at contained either simple styles that had some variation or  very ornate. The Anglican area had many ornate and engraved Celtic crosses while the Roman Catholic section was probably the most ornate area of all. 

     Gender did not seem to come through on the grave markers for me, mainly I found the monuments religious based. Another thing to consider is that some of the markers have more than one individual placed there and the monument placed may be more of a reflection of the first person interned.  It must also be taken into consideration that the deceased persons may have had no say in what was placed on their grave marker let alone any for of gender representation. For further research I would have to also think about what was thought of as symbols of feminine and masculine during the death year of the deceased and if those symbols come through at all, also I would use a larger sample size as well as focus on a specific section rather than look the entire graveyard.


Below is the map and pictures of our monument analysis.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?vps=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=215637000176331328252.0004b87653db1e7bd2987