Thank you all for your replies, both on and off list. They have been very helpful. While there are many references to above ground and below ground family vaults, what I was interested in were more properly called bricked graves. These consist of a brick lined grave, sealed with a brick arch after burial and never opened again. From the responses, I find that they are common but seldom get excavated or reported. 
 
Best,
 
Tim

________________________________

From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY on behalf of Carl Steen
Sent: Sat 4/11/2009 7:23 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Brick burial vaults




 Tim - above ground brick burial vaults are very common in the Charleston SC area, though I don't know of any that have been excavated. I don't know if the vault structures continue below the ground surface however, if that's what you are asking. Some are family vaults, large enough to go into and, apparently, perform Satanic rituals...


?



http://www.charleston.net/news/2009/apr/04/vandals_making_regular_target_historic_c77609/



?


They are common in New Orleans too, and I have often wondered if there is a French connection as there were many French Huguenot immigrants in the Lowcountry.




Carl Steen




-----Original Message-----
From: Riordan, Timothy B <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Sent: Fri, 10 Apr 2009 11:57 am
Subject: Brick burial vaults










I am looking for archaeological references to single-internment, brick
burial vaults. So far I have come across a lot of anecdotal evidence but
no real references. My sense is they are often encountered in cemetery
work but I have not been able to get my hands on any reports. Can anyone
point me in the right direction?



Thanks,



Tim