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Anita Cohen-Williams
Internet Consultant
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Date: Tue, 11 Mar 1997 09:02:00 -0800
From: "Elizabeth_Crowell" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Historic Cemetery Footstones
To: [log in to unmask]
 
     Jim -
 
     I have observed the initials facing both toward and away from the
     headstone.  More often than not, I have seen them facing away from
the
     headstone.  I have always wondered if there had been some
rearrangment
     of the stones at a later time for the purposes of lawn mowing and
     other landscaping.  If they were removed for some reason and put
back,
     the person doing it may not have been careful.
 
     In ethnic and lower socioeconomic cemeteries, I have observed small
     initialled stones which would have normally been used as footstones
     being used as headstones.  Sometimes there is other evidence in the
     arrangement of the cemetery which will help in your assessment as to
     which direction the burial is oriented.  Sometimes it is impossible
to
     tell.
 
     Good Luck
 
     Liz Crowell
 
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From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY
Date: Mon, Mar 10, 1997 12:01 PM
Subject: Historic Cemetery Footstones
To: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY
This is something I should have observed already myself, but the question
has just come up:
 
In 19th C. U.S. cemeteries, is there a consistent pattern as to which
direction the side of the footstone with initals faces-- toward or away
from
the headstone?
 
The only examples I have seen since the question arose face toward the
headstone.
 
Put another way, if I have only an initialled footstone, with no evidence
remaining of the headstone, which side is the burial most likely to be
on?
 
Sorry if this is an elementary question.
 
Jim Murphy
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