I've already asked about this, but I just found something that helps
illustrate my subject.
 
A Southwestern Archaeology link posts a collection of Archaeology
Week/Month posters from around the country (should check this out anyway) at:
 
http://www.swanet.org/posters.html
 
 
On the 1996 NY Archaeology Week Poster at:
 
http://www.swanet.org/posters/ny96.html
 
is a field drawing of one of the burials excavated at the African Burying
Ground in NY City.  It gives and excellent example of the coffin lid
decorations I am seeking: a heart, sheild, circle, ... with initials and a
date or age formed from brass tacks (early 19th century).  Perhaps the
illustration would jog folks' memories.  I can't believe that
archaeologists have been excavating cemeteries for years and the only
responses I got were about a single example on the lid of the coffin of
Henry Opukaha'ia, found when he was sent back to Hawaii (oh, and several
responses of - "we saw a number of those at xxx but it has never been
analyzed - contact zzz" [and then have zzz not reply]).  (I do not want to
know about hinges and handles)  Someone must have some useful
information???  Any folk-history sources???
 
 
Dan W.