Welcome

Welcome! This page will attempt to introduce some of you to the concept of pre 1830 New England gravestone carvings as an art form. It will briefly attempt to illustrate the symbology of many of the images and the meanings behind their use. Let me warn you this page is quite extensive and is the embodiment of several years of research. We hope you will find this page entertaining and informative

~ Background ~

The people of New England faithfully embraced Puritanism. They were fiercely devoted to the love and worship of God. The Puritans believed 'that a man could live in the world and yet not be of it' (Graven Images 1966:4). As the bible teaches 'therefore get out from among them and separate yourselves, says the lord, and quit touching that unclean thing' (Bible 2 Cor 6:17). In other words, according to scripture, even though they lived in a world full of people with various beliefs, morals and ethics, they must keep their behaviors and beliefs separate from the ways of the world and strictly adhere to bible principles. They must lead and live clean, 'pure' lives.

Although the Puritans did their best to maintain a life based on their theological beliefs, some worldly customs did manage to infiltrate their lives. In spite of several scriptures warning against the use of idols, such as, 'therefore my beloved ones, flee from idolatry' (Bible 1 Cor 10:14), or the use of graven images, 'And her graven images will be crushed to pieces .... all her idols I shall make desolate wastes' (Bible Mic 1:7). Both idols and graven images were used frequently on Puritan gravestones between 1653 and 1830.

It has been suggested by Allen Ludwig, the author of Graven Images, that the Puritans use of graven images on gravestones were used as custom dictated from ancient times. He refers to a story taken from the bible, which says that after Cain killed his brother Able, Adam, their father erected a great stone with the inscription 'Here was shed the blood of the righteous Abel.' (Graven Images 1966:3), as the possible reason for their use of graven images. I feel that he may be in error here. I will concede that although the stone did in fact bare an inscription, this may possibly have started the use of stone memorials to honor the dead. However, there was no mention of the use of carved images appearing on the stone. This would surely prove to be contrary to their theocratic beliefs with so many scriptures warning against idolatry and the use of graven images.

There are many things written about the Puritans and in nearly every writing there is mention of the fact that they were a superstitious people. 'Interestingly, it was only in their death rituals that Puritans indulged in any sort of image-making, and it is in their graveyard art that we find an otherwise well hidden, but deep-seated, naive belief in mystic symbolism (Stranger 1972:17). It is my belief that this unexplained reason for the use of carved images on gravestones was more likely due to their superstitious beliefs rather than the misinterpretation of scripture. No one will ever really know for sure what the reasoning is behind this apparent departure from the scripture, in the use of graven images on their stone memorials (though we all have our own ideas). What we do know is that though they may be old, cracked, broken and fallen, their graveyards have become wondrous museums for our personal pleasure and perusal and their memorials are now considered an interesting form of American Folk-Art.

Background on Gravestones Gravestone Motifs Gravestone Symbology

The Five Classes of Gravestones Alphabetical Listing of Gravestone Symbols

Light House Clock Stone Concord’s Sleepy Hollow Cemetery

Salem’s Burying Point Cemetery

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