Caution: Construction Zone/Burial Site Ahead

Imagine you're a construction worker just going about your business one day and you stumble upon this:

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/03/pictures/110310-wet-mummy-china-ming-science-mummies

-tomb-chinese-road/#/china-ming-dynasty-mummy-found-body_33098_600x450.jpg

This was a very real scenario when road-builders near Taizhou in China recently discovered a 600 year old “wet mummy” (her coffin was flooded). I didn’t know this was possible, but apparently when water is devoid of oxygen it inhibits the bacteria that would usually break down the body tissue. Since it is generally quite rare in China to mummify people, it’s been proposed that this was an accidental mummification. She had some fairly impressive grave goods which were also well preserved, including a a silver hair pin (her hairstyle was still intact), an exorcism coin and sizeable jade ring, which I find odd... Jade is a sign of wealth in China, which begs the question as to why she was found alone in a fairly remote area.

The jade ring

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/03/pictures/110310-wet-mummy-china-ming-science

-mummies-tomb-chinese-road/#/china-ming-dynasty-mummy-found-ring_33103_600x450.jpg

It's hard to see the pin, but you can tell how well preserved her hair is

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/03/pictures/110310-wet-mummy-china-ming-science

-mummies-tomb-chinese-road/#/china-ming-dynasty-mummy-hairfound_33104_600x450.jpg

The exorcism coin-said to ward off malevolent influences (wouldn't mind one of these also...)

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/03/pictures/110310-wet-mummy-china-ming-science

-mummies-tomb-chinese-road/#/china-ming-dynasty-mummy-found-medallion_33102_600x450.jpg

It will be interesting to see if they discover anything else around the site, and along with the roadbuilding whether they halt construction to survey the area.

They are currently looking for any scrolls or pottery that were common grave goods during the estimated time she was buried, which were used as to preserve her written biography-I think this practice should make a comeback! 

I found this article on the National Geographic Daily News site, which has some other awesome articles http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/ and I'll definitely be checking for an update on this find.

The Interesting One

Our discussions in class about memory and memorialization got me thinking about the tragedy of someone not being represented or remembered in the way they would want to be, because of tradition. All we do throughout our lives is attempt to represent ourselves the way we want to be viewed, with our clothes, language, musical preferences, food preferences and other countless aspects of our lives. Then we pass on and this life we’ve made could be eradicated in one fell swoop. Perhaps your family didn’t have the guides we all made at the beginning of term of what you would want to be buried in and with, I’m sure most items would be seen as preposterous and so unconventional it would not matter anyway. We spend all this time creating ourselves, but in the end mostly everyone is buried or cremated in a traditional way. In class for example, we only study the anomalies. At first we look at the burial site as a whole, then we focus on the ones which broke the pattern and took us by surprise. Do we not all deserve to be the “interesting one”?

Although this ramble is rather somber, I really do think people should discuss what they want to happen to them after their death, in advance. When the only thing left of me are people’s memories, I want them to actually be of me-not an image other’s have painted for them-no matter what. I suppose that in a way, tradition alleviates pain and planning for people, and for a majority it is what they desire. But to truly commemorate someone, one must never forget all the crazy little things that made them a “me”.

St. Stephen's

            Nestled in the hill next to Mount Newton Valley on the Saanich Peninsula, lies the oldest church in British Columbia. In 1862, William Thomson deeded five acres of land to George Hills, in order to build the church and school, and has since been a place of refuge and calm for those that visit and worship there. Everyone in my family has been married there, and many of my relatives have also been christened there. The owners of the property are attempting to sell the piece of property the church sits on, which includes a cemetery. This has caused an uproar in our relatively peaceful community and measures have been taken to protect the church and those buried in the gardens, and although the majority of my family are not very religious (some are not) this place is a landmark, haven and heritage site for us and others. The St.Stephen’s Trust Society was created to preserve the property (link at the bottom).

            The ethical issues of turning the church into a place of business are significant.  Restricted visiting times would likely be in effect, and most people buried in the graveyard still have living relatives who visit often. Though the cemetery should be protected by law, the church was also protected under the heritage act and the fate of that is still undecided. Currently the church is operating in conjunction with St.Mary’s in Saanichton and they have a year to see how that operates before they are reviewed again.

            The first funeral to take place at St. Stephen’s was in 1869 and numbers buried there increased to over 500 in the 1990’s. The majority of burials at the site are traditionally Christian and marked by simple headstones. Family plots are common, as well as graves mostly facing the East. 

To lose this place of peace is not something I like to think about. Although I seldom visit the church, each time I have it has been an incredibly fond and loving memory, and I do not even worship here. The last visit I made was for a group outing in high school, and I ended up skipping the rest of the day just to sit on the bench beneath the trees alone. 

In this specific case, I do not believe it is ethical to close this church. Respect must be shown for those buried in the cemetery and those who frequent it. 

Both of these photos came from the site: http://www.ststephenstrust.net/ and more information can be found here regarding the church, as well as http://www.ststephensanglican.net/

Which Coffin Do You Like the Best?

I recently began hunting for some out of the ordinary coffins, and found some absolute gems. Most of these were discovered on the site www.oddee.com, which has some other pretty interesting articles.

One of my favourites was the capsula mundi:

Your body rests in a fetal position, while the coffin is planted in the ground like a bulb. The materials are all biodegradable and when you put a bunch of them together, you get a beautiful grove of citrus plants! These are becoming quite popular in Europe and I certainly wouldn't mind being buried in one.
  This chicken coffin was arguably the most unique I came across:

There was no description for who this was created for, however it was identified as being made somewhere in Ghana, and I dearly hope they knew about it beforehand...

I did start to notice that most of these bizarre coffins coming up were made in Ghana, and apparently their coffin builders are famous for it! Specifically, these elaborate "fantasy coffins" which are found in the Ga tribe in Ghana. They view death as a time for celebration, which is reflected in their craftsmanship. Other coffins included cameras, airplanes, coca-cola bottles and hammers.

This is also a favourite. Unfortunately couldn't find a description for this one either.

Yes, this is a corkscrew.

I then stumbled across a company based in Australia who create "designer" coffins (www.lifeart.com.au). The description makes it sound as though they were designed by famous fashion designers, but they're essentially just personalized. You can choose the picture to adorn your coffin, include a saying or phrase, there's a DIY version which everyone can decorate with markers and paint (this doesn't sound incredibly appropriate for craft-time with the little ones, but it would be heartfelt). On their website you can also design your personal bucket list, which hopefully you focus on more than the design of your coffin...

To brighten up your resting place

All of the coffins I came across were a bit flashy for my taste, and would still like to be cremated, however it would be rather amusing to have a giant chicken coffin-just to wonder what future archaeologists would assume from it. 

You Probably Don't Want To Take Your Kids Here

I consider myself an average collector. Pieces from travelling, keepsakes and momentos to remember various occasions and people. Some people however, go the extra mile to collect their favourite items…Such as Mr.Jamieson…A 41 year old business contractor who admits to having an obsession for collecting shrunken heads, and claims: "Finding the perfect shrunken head is better than sex could ever be". To each his own. 

Ten shrunken heads of South American Indians are mounted in a glass cabinet in his Toronto apartment (left). His obsession for those began while he was travelling in ecuador, in search of a plant believed to cause spiritual ecstasy (regard this fact in any way you please). Shrunken heads you might say are just eclectic and interesting, and they are in fact some of the more tame things Mr.Jamieson has bedecking his apartment.  He also has a two-headed calf, five-legged cow, weapons from the Dayak Tribe in Borneo (which are all laced with human hair) and cooking utensils made from human leg bones. Mr.Jamieson describes himself as an ethnologist and amateur anthropologist and archaeologist. As a former construction worker, he has managed to make a career as a high-end trader with his love for travelling and artifacts. My image of Mr.Jamieson is a cross between Indiana Jones and Tim Burton:

While somewhat alarmed of this man’s collection, he is clearly passionate about his work and seems to live an incredibly fulfilled life. I will be on the lookout for more collections similar to this.

Gender

A distinct difference in burials seems to always be noticeable in regards to gender, and if grave goods and possessions are not indicative enough, we have the skeletal analysis to determine the sex. I was hoping to find a case study where this is not the case, and found an example here in B.C. 

home sweet home

Meghan Burchell did a comprehensive analysis of 1130 burials on the coast of British Columbia and found no differences between the male and female grave goods. Burchell admits in her introduction that while there were a lack of grave goods and the shell midden burials were not preserved well, gender distinction was “difficult but not impossible” (p.251) and she also challenges prior notions of status in Northwest Coast burials. She argues that the status of an individual within a burial site should not be concluded simply from grave goods, or lack thereof. Burchell did discover that although the amount of grave goods did not differ between males and females, the variation of grave goods was higher for the female burials.

shell midden

Although some of the absolute words used in Burchell's analysis made me a bit wary, I really liked the way this study was done and reported. She challenged existing notions about the area in regards to gender and managed to prove her point effectively. There were also several critiques included with opposing viewpoints, and although feminists were mentioned, it was clear in her paper she remained neutral and objective.

I am only in my first year at UVic, and studies like this, are what make me want to do more in anthropology. Not only was this a somewhat recent study, but it was done in this province and challenged long-standing traditions. 

Reference

Burchell, M. (2006). Gender, Grave Goods and Status in British Columbia Burials. Canadian Journal of Archaeology, Vol.30(2), p.251-266. Retrieved March 8, 2011 from EBSCOhost

Be Good

The first definition of death to appear in a Google search comes from Wikipedia (of course), and states in the coldest and most dispassionate terms that:

 "Death is the termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism."

Is this what you would tell a child if they asked you what death is? I suppose in this way it is a much easier concept to grasp than others and is the scientific answer, but I would like to think the majority of us believe it is more than that.

I have been fascinated by (and will admit, somewhat afraid of) religion and the effect it can have on people. The very scope of religion and people who follow them clearly have an impact on most of the people in this world, and I wanted to look at the beliefs and the way death is conceptualized in various religions, as they usually have incredibly eloquent ways of describing it.

Christianity is based on the concept of having a specific "time to die" and although the acceptance of Jesus Christ supposedly grants you eternal life, "faithful" Christians await the second coming of Christ to really be immortal. While this is going on, Christians believe you will enter Heaven if you have lived without sin. Heaven seems to be a rather broad idea and it is said that no real definition exists because our minds are not able to imagine such beauty, but pieces of definition include: a sea of glass, river of crystal, and a city that is pure gold and clear as glass. Something along the lines of this:

http://www.randalldsmith.com/my_weblog/2009/07/speaking-of-heaven-revelation-21-and-22.html

http://www.lightandmagic.co.uk/heaven-life/gates-to-heaven.html

Christians used to practice inhumation almost exclusively, but the idea of cremation is gaining popularity. 

Judaism uses death to stress the importance of living a meaningful life as it will eventually come to an end, and when it does everything in that life will be justified. Life is though to be so sacred, that violating the commandments will be forgiven if it was done to save a life. As for the treatment of the body, a person is never left alone from the time that they die and when they're buried. An organization is present in most communities called the chevra kaddisha who care for the dead, and they are all volunteers as their services are priceless. The body is wrapped in a plain, linen shroud and buried in the earth. Cremation is not allowed and if the body is in a coffin, holes must be drilled so that they may come in contact with the earth, and the body must never be exposed during the burial. There is also an extensive period of mourning including: aninut (1 or 2 days), shiva (7 days), shloshim (30 days) and avelut (12 months, but is only for a parent). 

http://www.pjvoice.com/v28/28006iraq.aspx

Buddhism followers also believe that death is incredibly important and rather than the idea of your soul continuing to live on, they believe death is an awakening. The person is said to go into a four day trance after death, called First Bardo, in which the person does not know they're dead; which is why monks, family and friends will repeat mantras to a person who is dying; so they are in a peaceful state of mind before death. A common mantra is:

"Even the gorgeous royal chariots wear out; and indeed this body too wears out. But the teaching of goodness does not age; and so Goodness makes that known to the good ones."

Monks continue to chant and follow the body along with the family to the funeral, where the body is cremated. Food and candles are given to the monks as a sign of goodwill. Second Bardo begins after a person has accepted the "Clear Light", and they see everything that has happened to them and everything they have ever thought. Third Bardo is the state one is in, when seeking a new birth.

http://wwwdelivery.superstock.com/WI/223/1850/PreviewComp/SuperStock_1850-18088.jpg

Looking at these different practices and beliefs was quite inspiring and if I had to choose, I would prefer a Buddhist burial. Their views are incredibly peaceful and uplifting, and I like the simple fact that goodness is what endures and must be ensured for others.

These are the main sources I used, and have more information:

http://www.findyourfate.com/deathmeter/religion-death.htm

http://www.buddhanet.net/d_cermon.htm

http://www.jewfaq.org/death.htm

Monument Analysis - Ross Bay Cemetery

Data Set

            While walking among the graves in Ross Bay Cemetery, we were all struck by the unique and non-traditional grave markers. In a sea of crosses and classic tombstones, it is a feat to make your grave marker stand out, and these people certainly managed to. It is difficult to define the parameters of this particular data set, given that their consistency is in their individuality; it is the markers which have no other equal within the cemetery.

View Ross Bay Cemetery in a larger map

Cluster 1: Monuments 7, 8, 9,  & 10

Cluster 2: Monuments 2, 3, 4, & 5

Cluster 3: Monuments 1& 11

Research Questions

1. Are there/is there a certain area(s) where the unique grave markers tend to congregate or do they follow a pattern? If so, do the markers within a congregation show similarities?

            Although our data set consists of non-traditional grave markers, there was consistency shown in the location of them. Of the eleven grave markers selected for the data set, all but one of them fit into one of three fairly distinct clusters throughout the cemetery. The tree stump (Norman Kirk), sundial (Graham Pettapiece), anchor (Elizabeth Schultz) and eagle (Frederick Layton and Barnard Erickson) are located in the Southwest region of the site (cluster 1). The Saint Clare statue, baby chair (D.B. Campbell), Pooley Angel and fireman’s hat (Fred Medley) are located in the Northeast corner (cluster 2). The Bossi angel and the Deans family monument are located on the Northern perimeter (cluster 3). The Behnsen monument is located on the Southern perimeter and is not situated near any other markers from the data set.

           

            Contrary to what one might expect, nearly all these grave markers have fairly early dates in both birth and death. It seems to be a common assumption that less traditional graves would be a more modern practice, however the earliest date of death is 1893 (Bossi) and a majority are before 1945. In cluster 3 both monuments are family plots, and have a human figure marking their graves. In cluster 2, we see two single graves of untimely deaths: the baby and the fireman, and two group plots. These two clusters contain all the large group and family plots within our data set (excluding Behnsen monument), and are located near the main entrance and walkway into the cemetery. This most likely suggests that these were fairly valuable plots during the opening/construction of the cemetery in 1873 and were purchased by the wealthy families of Victoria (Old Cemeteries Society Of Victoria, 2010). Cluster 1 and the single Behnsen monument are located on the Northern edge of the cemetery near the water and as one could infer from our previous data, the plots are for single person burials with the exception of the eagle (two people) and Behnsen monument. These sites are further away from the main entrance, however are along the water’s edge, which oddly enough is the area of the cemetery with the majority of unoccupied space. One would think this terrain would be quite desired, however the increased weathering and soil erosion problems in this section may explain the single person plots, as they would be less expensive.

            This data shows that even in our attempts to stand out from the crowd, we as humans inevitably find ways to tie ourselves to one another. The unique grave markers within Ross Bay Cemetery are incredibly inspiring, and remind people that although we will all go one day, we will still be remembered.

2. Were these graves primarily for one person or multiple people? If they were designed for one person initially, how have the new additions affected the space?

            We did not find a significant difference in the number of graves with more than one person, six out of the eleven monuments surveyed marked the graves of more than one person. Only one of those eight graves is a pair of people, which was the eagle (relationship between the pair is unspecified). The names on the eagle monument both suggest to be male and have separate surnames; although the dates of birth are twenty-nine years apart, their deaths are only three years from one-another and the name plaques are significantly different in appearance. The difference is due to the three (or possibly more) extra years of weathering and eroding on the bronze plaques, as one now bears the tell-tale turquoise tinge of oxidation, giving the monument a somewhat disjointed look.

The four largest monuments ( Saint-Clare, Bossi Angel, Pooley Angel and Deans monument), which have human form statues all represent a group of multiple people. The size and stature of these monuments appear to be purposefully indicative of the scope of lives they accommodate. It is evident from the Pooley Angel with the range of materials and incsribed fonts, that the monument was originally built for Charles and the bodies (or perhaps only epitaphs) of his family were laid to rest after the monument was erected; all the available space to inscribe names at the base appears to be consumed (Adams, 1983).  The Behnsen monument seems to have been built at once, as each name has their own side and is evenly spaced on the marker. The epitaph style is also consistent across the monument, even though the dates of death are inconsistent. These observations indicate the monument was either erected after all the deaths occurred, or the remaining family members had their names inscribed before their deaths; and that it possibly only marks or contains ashes of the deceased.

            From the fieldwork and research, it became evident just how personal and symbolic these monuments are for the deceased and/or their families. Whether they waited to be buried together or were upholding tradition, these grave markers-though quirky and out of the ordinary-still represent family and love.

References

Old Cemeteries Society Of Victoria. (2010). Ross Bay Cemetery. Retrieved from http://www.oldcem.bc.ca/cem_rb.htm

Adams, J. (1983). Historic Guide To Ross Bay Cemetery. Victoria, BC: Sono Nis Press.

A Pirate's Burial For Me

Disneyland is one of the happiest places on earth, so it's no surprise that people wish to remain there forever; however the cleaning crew at the park isn't so thrilled with a new trend in burial practices, that although first occurred in the 1990s, has now become increasingly common within the gates of the Magic Kingdom. There are supposedly more human remains scattered in Disneyland than in any other theme park in the world, and this has become such a large issue for custodial staff, that special vacuums with HEPA filters have been purchased which remove human particles. The Haunted Mansion ride is fittingly, the most popular place for spreading ashes. For those of you who don't remember or have not been, this is when you ride in the cars through a cemetery and a ghost pops up beside you; not a popular ride for small children that are sitting next to Mum and Dad, who get replaced by this:

The "Small World" ride is also a hot spot for remains, which is a bit perplexing, but i do find the anthem for the ride rather creepy, so maybe I'm not the only one who thinks of it as an eerie location.
Pirates of the Caribbean is my favourite ride of all-time and since I'd like my ashes to be spread in water, this seems like a win-win situation for me. However I hope my relatives are a tad more cunning than one woman who recently decided to spread the ashes of her beloved throughout the 15 minute ride. After being caught on camera she was questioned afterwards and claimed that she had merely been "Throwing baby powder around", a usual occurrence there I am sure...

FYI: should you see someone spreading ashes you are supposed to call the custodial hotline and whisper (yes, whisper) "HEPA clean-up"

When I Go...

As creepy as it might sound, I’ve actually always known what I’d like to happen to me when I die. A coffin and grave really has never sounded appealing to me, and for me it seems more tragic than what I had envisioned. I would like to be cremated and have my ashes spread at the beach where I have spent most of my life.

I don’t exactly have words to describe my devotion and love towards the ocean, but can explain certain aspects of why I love it so dearly.

 My Nana has lived near a small bay in the Saanich Inlet since the early 1900s and the entire family has grown up there. It is the center of our family and always will be. When I was a baby I would bob around in a red swimsuit/innertube contraption for entire afternoons. I do remember being frustrated at not being able to go underwater and explore this new world I had discovered, but of course the sole purpose of the suit was to keep me from doing any such thing so attempts became meaningless. Then came boogie boards, which were my rock collecting devices. It is shocking there are even rocks still left on the beach after the many hours of scouring I did. They never looked nearly as pretty or shiny once they were dry, but I was content to mull about for hours in the shallows picking my favourites. 

My absolute favourite thing about the ocean though, is lying in the starfish position. Whether it’s twilight and the stars are just appearing or it’s the middle of the day and my little cousins are shouting at the dogs on the shore, when I tilt my head back and float, it’s as though everything ceases to exist. There is no sound, all you see is sky and you are weightless. Nothing I’ve come across in the world so far has ever compared to this feeling, and so the ocean is my sanctuary; where I go when I’m happy, upset or homesick.

On to actual things I’d want to come with me (wherever that may be)…My little red innertube would be one because of all that it represents. Books have always been (as I’m sure with most people) a sort of haven for me, and as juvenile as it sounds, my Harry Potter books are what I would want with me. Beginning in grade two when I first picked one up, I can honestly say that story has been the most constant thing in my life, only next to my family. There are a few pieces of jewellery I’ve collected on my travels that I would want to wear, including: a thin cord bracelet bought in Villefranche and a braided leather bracelet from Rome (possibly my favourite city). I would also need something to represent dance. Experiences I’ve had in dance, travelling, meeting people and creating incredible friendships have quite literally shaped me. However I honestly can’t think of one single thing to encapsulate all that. 

My personal belief is that it gives more closure if someone is laid to rest this way, perhaps because I’m so unfortunately sentimental, but if I am ash in the water people won’t have to walk past my grave. I won’t be tied to a fixed point where people have to visit. I also like the idea of travelling even after my death. I would be constantly moving and wherever I may end up, I will forever remain in my sanctuary.

Hello

Hi guys, I'm Maddy. I'm a first year student and haven't declared a major yet, but anthropology has been an interest of mine for quite awhile. I chose to do this course because death is such a fascinating and mysterious subject, and the way different people approach it has always intrigued me. Whether a society welcomes or rejects death, the rituals surrounding it give us insight into their culture and tell a great deal about their lives. I was obsessed with Pharaoh's tombs in ancient Egypt as a kid, so this morbid fascination with death and archaeology was sparked at a young age.
People's beliefs surrounding death and the afterlife also allows you to see someone in an entirely different way. This combination of history and human nature is why I love anthropology, there is no other field with such an array of perspectives you get to see the world through.