1. Archaeological Considerations in
the Management of Cemeteries
S. Dwight Kirkland, B.S., M.A., RPA
Southeastern Horizons, Inc.
Douglas, GA 31533

2. Archaeology? In an Active Cemetery?
• Archaeology can be incorporated in the management of
cemeteries for a variety of reasons
• Archaeologists can assist when human remains and/or
archaeological materials are exposed during normal cemetery
operations
• Archaeologists can be utilized to train cemetery personnel to
recognize the telltale signs of previous interments before
disturbing older graves
• Archaeology can enhance the culture history of a cemetery

3. Topics for Discussion
I. Problems with previous interments
II. Archaeological materials that may be encountered
during grave excavations
III. Archaeological materials that may be encountered
during grounds upkeep or cemetery expansion
IV. Archaeological consultation

4. I
Previous Interments

5. Recognition of Previous Interments
• Exposed human remains
• Burial accoutrements encountered
• Grave shaft “footprints” found

6. Exposed Human Remains

9. Burial Accoutrements Encountered

12. Graveshaft “footprints” found

20. II
Archaeological materials commonly
encountered during grave excavations

29. III
Archaeological materials that may
be encountered during grounds
upkeep or cemetery expansion

36. IV
Archaeological Consultation
• Contact a local archaeologist if needed to assist with:
• Grave excavation issues
• Newly discovered archaeological sites in expansion areas

37. Grave Excavation Issues
• Archaeologists can advise on the best
procedures and materials to use when graves
are disturbed
• Archaeologists can train grave excavators to
recognize previous grave “footprints” and thus
avoid their disturbance

38. Newly Discovered Archaeological
Sites
• Archaeologists can help recognize and characterize new
archaeological sites found within a cemetery and/or in
proposed expansion areas
• Archaeologists can help interpret the observed artifacts and
place the new site(s) into a cultural context that can enhance
the cemetery’s culture history
• Archaeologist can help officially record new site(s) with the
Georgia Archaeological Site File.

39. How to find an Archaeologist
• Access the Society for Georgia Archaeology (SGA) website
• Contact a local chapter of SGA using its website information:
• Augusta Northwest GA
• Golden Isles Coastal GA
• South Georgia Blue Ridge
• West Georgia Greater Atlanta
• Gwinnett Ocmulgee
• Georgia Historic Preservation Division of DNR website:
• Consultants Directory (Archaeology)  30 firms

40. Summary
• Archaeologists can help with critical problems sometimes
encountered in cemeteries with older components
• Grave disturbance issues
• Prevention of grave disturbance
• Archaeologists can help identify and interpret artifacts found
in a cemetery and thus enhance its culture history
• Archaeologists can help characterize new sites and assist with
recording these in the state database.

41. Southeastern Horizons, Inc.
367 Julian Minchew Road
Douglas, GA 31533
912.384.2819 (office)
912.309.9637 (cell)
www.sehorizons.com (website)
dkirkland@sehorizons.com (email)