SOMBER SYMBOLS

DURING THE LATE SEVENTEENTH AND EARLY EIGHTEENTH CENTURY GRAVESTONES OFTEN SHOWED SYMBOLS MORE DIRECTLY ALLIGNED WITH DEATH. WHETHER THAT WOULD CONSIST OF SKULLS, HOURGLASSES WITH SAND POURING, CROSSBONES OR EVEN SKELTONS.

THIS IDEA OF HAVING A MORE MOURNFUL DESIGNS ON GRAVE WERE OFTEN DUE TO THE LACK OF ANY RELIGOUS PRESENCE AND TO DISPLAY ECONOMC HARDSHIPS. THIS OFTEN IS SEEN AS A VERY MORBID WAY TO DESIGN GRAVE STONES, BUT OFTEN RELATED TO MORE GOTHIC TIME PERIODS.

DURING THE PERIOD OF SLAVERY, OFTEN AFRICAN AMERICANS GRAVES WERE EXTREMELY PLAIN AND EVEN SOMETIMES JUST FEATURED THE PLAIN STONE. GRAVES WITHOUT MOTIFS WERE OFTEN DUE TO THE EXTREMELY LIMITED CHOICES OF DESIGNS. ALTHOUGH THE FREE BLACKS HAS MORE FREEDOM WITH OPTIONS AS THEY LIVED AND WORKED AS SEAMSTRESSES, BLACKSMITHS, BARBERS, GROCERS, ETC. COMMENLY CHOSE FOR DRAPERY, WEEPING ANGEL, AND URN DESIGNS.