Anthropology A103, Spring 2008
Seriation exercise

Based on the marker data presented in the data table, answer the following questions.  Be as detailed as possible, especially when you are explaining how you reached your conclusions based on your tentative relative chronology.  If you need to review the terms used in the questions, go back to the marker description page.

1.  Which of the following markers came earliest:  S. Wright or Lloyd?  How did you come to this conclusion?

2. Which of the following two colors was produced first:  grey or red?  What markers support this conclusion?

3. Place the following five stones in relative order from oldest to most recent: Forrest, Gorvie Brandenburger, Ziko, and Bisbing.  Explain how you determined this relative chronology.

4. During which of the following periods was the Bacon marker produced:  1865-1900, 1915-1935, or 1950-1980?  How did you arrive at this conclusion?

5. What is the most common shape among the earliest 25 markers? 

6. Place the following marker shapes in relative order, from earliest to most recent:  above-ground, in-ground, symbolic, and monumental.  How did you arrive at this conclusion?

7. Identify an innovator, a single marker whose style is completely novel within the sample.  How is this stone a break from previous styles and styles made at about the same time?

8. What is the most common marker shape in this sample since 1920?

9. Identify a marker that reflects the deceased's wealth.  How does this marker show you class identity?

10. Identify a marker that reflects the deceased's ethnicity.  How does this marker show you ethnic identity?

If you have any questions, email me.

For more neat grave markers, visit the web page find-a-grave, which has an extensive collection of famous, infamous, and ordinary folks' markers.

Chicago's cemeteries include similar markers to those at Crown Hill, and some truly unique markers that can be visited at Graveyards of Chicago.

A nice British site with quite different markers is Pharmcats' Cemetery photo page.

Last updated October 22, 2007