The Old School Cemetery Case Study
GeorgiaThe Georgia Natural Resource Department's Historic Preservation Division produced this Old School Cemetery Report as an example for cemetery preservationists seeking strategies for documenting cemeteries as well interpreting and preserving them. The HP Division's report primarily focuses on documenting the history of burial activities in a Wilkes County, Georgia graveyard that dates back to the mid-nineteenth century. The report also includes practical cultural resource management instruction for cemetery preservationists to consider for their own projects. Hired as consultants, the New South Associates CRM team contributed useful sections to the report concerning cemetery types, burial traditions, grave markers, and floral decorations. Altogether, the CRM team's cross-disciplinary approach helps preservationists understand relationships between a variety of cultural traditions and cemeteries across the nation. This case study provides a comprehensive model for preservationists committed to developing a cemetery preservation project within their respective communities. For more details, see the Old School Cemetery Final Report on the Georgia Natural Resource Department's HP Division Web site.
