1. The data set used was children graves within Ross Bay Cemetery, Victoria, BC, Canada, with child being classified as an individual from age 0-10 years. Out of 21 graves that were photographed, 12 were chosen that met our requirements and presented interesting imagery.
2. We were trying to find out the material memory and imagery that is left on the graves of children who have been buried in Ross Bay Cemetery. Another part of the question was also how many, in which area, and what time period did most of the childrens' graves fall.
3. Too the first question, what was the material memory and imagery that is left on the grave of children who are buried in Ross Bay Cemetery? there were a variety of answers. Of the imagery that we viewed there was a childs' chair and shoes, sleeping baby, angels, lambs, plants and flowers, and some graves without imagery. When looking at these pieces I could not help but notice that much of the imagery focuses on the symbols of religious importance, innocence, and purity. As Pearson points out these different aspects of the grave are very much created in the mindset and understanding of adults rather then children (Pearson, 2008, pg. 103). I would infer that, that is why there is far more adult understanding and association with symbols of religion and innocence, then say toys or other artifacts that a child may have held more dear.
To the second question, how many, in area and what time period did most of the childrens' graves fall? We discovered some interesting results. We found 21 graves, however 12 fit the profile for which we were searching for. These 12 graves ranged from the 1800s and 1900s, these graves were mostly located in the area of the cemetery that was in the older area. This could be according to the history and heritage records of Victoria, BC, Canada, diseases and epidemics were prevalent during that point in time, many of which effected both the children and the elderly a great deal, especially the small pox in 1882 (Canadian encyclopedia). Childrens' life expectancy was also very short at that point in time, due to the rougher living of people in Victoria.
Bibliography
Canadian Encyclopedia, 2011, http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0005203, History of Medicine.
Pearson, Parker, Mike. The Archaeology of death and burial. 2008, Texas A&M University Press; USA.
Map of the Monument analysis of Child Graves in Ross Bay Cemetery, Victoria, BC, Canada:
View Children's Graves Ross Bay Cemetary in a larger map
Friday, February 11, 2011
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Dismembered Ideas
So this week I was thinking, we talk so much about the high status people, why not look up someone who has more infamous status, famous criminals, so what came to mind, well of course H.H. Holmes. His infamous status has even stemmed some interesting urban legends and is a part of contemporary American culture, which I would think future archaeologists, would be very interested in.
So for those of you who haven’t watched “Supernatural”, or picked up a book of serial killers. H.H. Holmes, also known, as Herman Webster Mudgett was one of America’s first documented serial killers. He created a hotel in Chicago in 1893 where he committed most of his murders. The “Castle” as the hotel was dubbed, was built across from the drug store he owned and was three stories high, this building was created with numerous windowless rooms, and difficult to get through hallways, and Holmes himself only understood the plans. In this building he tortured and killed 27, possibly 250 people. It was not however until after killing Howard Pitezel was he was arrested in 1894 and incarcerated. After a look into the case reveling complete monstrosity, he was found guilty and in 1896 was hanged and died.
Now the interesting part that has put Holmes apart from other serial killers, is that he requested, to have his body encased in concrete. He requested this because one of his favorite things to do with the bodies of his victims was to dismember them, and he feared that after he was dead this would happen to his own body. The even more intriguing piece is that his request, even though his infamous status of a serial killer was well known, was granted. Through his gruesome and terrifying deeds he still has gained status by living within urban myths and stories of haunting, as well as his famous form of burial. (Biography magazine, May 2003)
His burial, to exhume, would be a very interesting one. I would wonder if our records would reflect, for future archaeologists, that he was a person of famous criminal status. Or would he be mistaken for a person of high status, for this does not seem like a common burial practice. Or would the archaeologists view this as a punishment only reserved for the worst of criminals?
My two cents on this topic would be that his burial may be viewed as an rite only reserved for the most terrible, in comparison with North America’s culture of the time of popular cemetery burial, this is very different. Many of the more high status individuals at the time were not buried in that way, so it might be a tip off that this is not a positive high status burial. The fact that he is incased, frozen in a stance and with material filling his orifices; this could be interpreted as a desire to silence and obliterate the “evil” individual among the society.
What do you guys think, how would future archaeologists interpret burials of criminals such as H.H. Holmes?
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