Preservation of Historic Cemeteries

Cemeteries are sacred resting places for our ancestors as well as valuable cultural and historical resources for the living. It is important to document a cemetery through photography, mapping, and historical research. Then, share your research with your local public library, descendants, or other interested parties! 

I recently attended a workshop on cemetery preservation presented by experts in this field and learned several tips for cemetery maintenance, delineation, and mapping. I share these notes below, along with links to find out more from the experts. 

Cemetery Maintenance

Regular cemetery maintenance protects it from natural degradation or vandalism and can ensure access to that cemetery for future generations.

• Post signs listing the name, hours, and rules of visiting the cemetery
• Keep the grass mowed and remove dead plants or other items that no longer look fresh
• Lawn mowers and weed eaters can bump against or damage stones
• Hand-cut grass or weeds around stones and monuments
• Clean stones with D/2
• Do not use pesticides or other chemicals near stones, they carry salt and can cause freeze/thaw cracking on stones
• Do not use pesticides and denude the ground. This can cause erosion.
• If a marker is broken, do not repair it with concrete
• Leave broken markers in place so they don't get separated from the base or grave
• Do not clear-cut a wooded cemetery. Some plants may be part of the original landscape. A wooded canopy can help reduce weeds. Trees near a tombstone or fence can be trimmed or removed if necessary.
• Do remove dead trees and limbs

Finding Cemetery Boundaries

Cemeteries may be marked by a fence or cluster of tombstones, but it's quite possible that unmarked graves exist beyond these boundaries. Marking cemetery boundaries can help prevent unexpected discoveries when land is sold or developed.

• Fiberglass probes can be pushed into the soil to find disturbed ground (do not use metal probes in areas that have buried power lines)
• Disturbed ground will give way under light pressure, whereas undisturbed ground will not
• Once you find disturbed ground, branch out to delineate its boundaries
• A team of 3 can walk the grounds with probes to delineate the entire boundaries
• If needed, call the State Archaeologist for assistance with ground-penetrating radar and other tools – these are expensive and so an assessment is needed by the Archaeologist to prioritize use of this equipment and his time
• The State Archaeologist can assist if a cemetery is in imminent danger of destruction
• The State Archaeologist needs to know how you are connected to the cemetery (are you a property owner, descendant, or developer?)

Mapping a Cemetery

Drawing a map of the cemetery does not require advanced tools or super math skills. And this goes a long way to documenting the cemetery and helping future generations find their loved ones.

• Find a stable datum (tree, road, or building) to use as a base point
• Lay out a grid in 50 ft. x 50 ft. square. Square it up by checking the hypotenuse is 70.9 ft. Extend this square over the ground by pulling off the first points and checking the hypotenuse
• Once the squares are laid, install steaks at 10 ft intervals along the edges then rope off the area in a grid
• Label the squares alphabetically along one axis and numerically along another, giving each square a unique identifier such as A1, A2, B1, B2… etc.
• Photograph each square, writing the identifying coordinates on a white broad and including it in the photo. Also, indicate which way is north in the photo. 
• Take a piece of graph paper and replicate your grid. You can then hand draw the contents inside each square
• This hand-drawn map should have a title, date, legend, scale, north arrow, and the date drawn
• Number the markers and transcribe the names and dates for each marker if you have time
• This hand-drawn map can be redrawn or made into a digital map later. Try using PowerPoint to create a digital version, it is easy to use
• File the map with your local library and provide to descendants and other interested parties

Other Tips

There are often misunderstandings about who is responsible for maintaining a cemetery and who can access the grounds. Usually, it is the descendants who must maintain the cemetery. Ownership of the property does not require the owner to maintain the cemetery.

• Before cutting trees and fixing stones, make sure you know who owns the cemetery and ask permission
• Get the landowner's permission to access a cemetery on private property
• Cemetery maintenance is expensive! If you can, donate funds to help maintain a cemetery you care about. There may be public grants for some cemetery preservation, but unless it is a state or federal cemetery, it is most likely paid for by a private entity and funds are always helpful.

Get Advice from the Experts

Cemetery or tombstone repairs are best handled by the experts. The resources below will help you follow the correct path to cemetery preservation or to find someone to assist you with the task.

• Cemetery Conservation - National Center for Preservation Technology & Training (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)
• NPS Preservation Brief 48: Preserving Grave Markers in Historic Cemeteries
• Cemetery Preservation | Archaeological Conservation | Museum Preservation | Chicora Foundation
• South Carolina’s Historic Cemeteries: A Preservation Handbook, South Carolina Department of Archives and History, 1997, updated 2007
• State Archaeologist - SC Institute for Archeology and Anthropology | University of South Carolina

Interested in researching local cemeteries? I've included links to online resources below. You can also visit the Walker Local & Family History Center to access our cemetery books and other resources. Cemetery research may take a little digging, but it's worth it.