Grave markers reflect a wealth of information and collectively epitomize society's historic, social, and economic patterns over time. Despite an abundance of cemetery research in other parts of the country, little research has been undertaken to evaluate grave marker attributes in Florida. The purpose of this research was to determine how grave marker attributes have changed over time in north-central, central, and southeast Florida. Data were collected from ten cemeteries in five counties in Florida, representing the grave markers of over 1,100 individuals. Data collection involved visiting each cemetery, photographing markers, and cataloging grave marker attributes. Attributes analyzed included marker type, marker material, epitaphs, iconographic images, memorial photographs, footstones, and kerbs. A number of important trends were noted. Marker material exhibited the clearest example of a temporal trend, shifting over time from 73% marble to 73% granite. Marker type varied greatly from upright and flat ground markers to a variety of customized markers and vaults. Cultural differences were also noted with in-ground vaults dominating traditionally black cemeteries. There were clear differences in marker style between affluent and less affluent cemeteries, with numerous hand-cast cement markers observed in less prosperous areas. Furthermore, beginning in the early 1980's there is an increase in customized laser engraved markers. Overall, Florida's cemeteries offer a rich history of the state's mortuary practices and further research should be conducted to preserve this history.

Grave markers represent a significant amount of highly important information related to the cultural patterns of a society, as well as how these patterns have changed over time. Although, cemetery studies are popular in other regions of the United States, few studies regarding grave marker attributes have been conducted in Florida. The purpose of this research was to analyze and interpret temporal and demographic changes in grave marker attributes in Greenwood Cemetery in Orlando, Florida. Another aspect of this research focused on the possible correlation between the age and inferred sex of the deceased individual in relation to the type of epitaph and iconography chosen to represent them in their mortuary context. Data was collected from 925 headstones within Greenwood Cemetery; these headstones further represent 1,102 individuals. Attributes analyzed include marker material, marker type, iconographic images, epitaph, memorial photographs, footstones and curbs. These attributes will be analyzed and compared to trends noted within a similar study conducted by Meyers and Schultz (2016), to allow for better interpretation of trends in grave marker attributes across a range of Florida cemeteries. Results indicate multiple trends. The popularity of marble headstones decreased greatly from 51% in Pre-1900 to only 8% from 2000 to 2017. Furthermore, the prevalence of epitaph and iconography categories vary greatly on both a temporal and demographic basis. Male infants are more likely than any other demographic group to be represented by a genealogical epitaph, at 41% representation. Ultimately, these trends illustrate important aspects of cultural changes related to mortuary practice and individual mortuary contexts within Orlando, Florida.

Depuis que son statut scientifique a été établi à la fin du XVIIIème siècle, l'archéologie funéraire se trouve au centre des recherches sur les sociétés italiotes de Grande Grèce. Suscitant comme les vases l’admiration des élites culturelles, les marqueurs de tombe des nécropoles d’Italie du Sud se sont très tôt retrouvés dans les collections européennes et ont d'abord été étudiés par les historiens de l’art. En prenant en compte les questions de terminologie (bien qu'il soit moderne, le mot marqueur est pertinent) et sur la base d'un corpus d'environ 800 marqueurs patiemment réunis, cette recherche démontre qu'une étude minutieuse et méthodique des marqueurs enrichit la connaissance historique et ouvre de nouvelles perspectives. Ces édifices et objets avaient pour fonctions de signaler les tombes, définir le nouveau statut du mort et lui rendre hommage ainsi que de célébrer sa famille aux yeux des vivants. Ils donnent donc à voir des pans entiers et mal connus des sociétés italiotes et de leur genèse. Du Vème siècle avant J.-C., quand territoires grecs et indigènes commencent à échanger au sein d’une koinè italiote, au IIIème siècle avant J.-C., quand les Romains prennent pied dans la région, ils apportent des informations précieuses sur l’évolution des sociétés locales. Une étude confrontant l’ensemble des sources disponibles permet d’aborder des aspects importants des sociétés : mutations sociales, hiérarchisation des communautés et affirmation de pouvoir, relations entre Grecs et autochtones, phénomènes d’acculturation, rites funéraires et croyances eschatologiques. La thèse se présente en deux volumes destinés à être simultanément et complémentairement lus et consultés. L’un contient les fiches extraites de la base de données conçue pour l’étude du corpus : près de 800 marqueurs ou fragments de marqueurs. L’autre développe les analyses archéologiques et historiques. Après un état de la question historiographique, étymologique et méthodologique, l’étude examine le matériel du corpus dans une perspective principalement archéologique, en mettant l’accent sur les questions de contexte et en opérant éventuellement des confrontations avec les sources iconographiques et textuelles. Après avoir élaboré une typologie aussi méthodique et nuancée que possible des marqueurs, elle en exploite les acquis en deux synthèses. L’une est consacrée au concept même de marqueur de tombe (pourquoi et selon quels critères les Grecs marquent-ils leurs tombes ?), l’autre étudie les influences de la koinè méditerranéenne et du creuset italiote sur les marqueurs de Grande Grèce, afin de mieux comprendre les processus d’acculturation et de diffusion. / Since the scientific value of funerary archaeology has been acknowledged at the end of the XVIIIth century, it has been at the heart of research on Magna Graecia italiot societies. Because they aroused the cultural elite’s admiration, as much as the vases, grave markers from Southern Italia have been at a very early stage brought in European collections and first studied by art historians.Taking into account terminology issues (however modern, the term “marker” remains relevant) and based on a corpus of around 800 markers patiently put together, this study seeks to demonstrate that a methodical and meticulous analysis of the markers helps us to expand our historical knowledge and open new perspectives. These monuments and objects were there to indicate tombs, define the deceased’s new status and pay tribute to him, as well as praise his family in the eyes of the livings. They allow us to see, then, entire parts, which are little known, of the italiot societies and their origins. From the Vth century, when the interactions between Greek and indigenous territories start within the italiot koine, to the IIIrd century B.-C., when the Romans started to settle down in the region, these monuments give useful information about the evolution of local societies. Bringing together the whole range of the available evidence allows us to study important features of the societies: social mutations, communities hierarchy, power claims, relationships between Greek and native people, acculturation process, funerary rites and eschatological beliefs.This dissertation is divided into two volumes, which are to be read in a simultaneous and complementary way. One volume consists of the forms from the database designed for the corpus analysis: nearly 800 entire or fragmentary markers. The other one holds the archaeological and historical analyses. After stating the current status in historiography, etymology and methodology, this study looks into the corpus material, mainly from an archaeological point of view, focusing on contextualization, and sometimes comparing it with iconographic and textual evidence. In two overviews, the analysis then draws conclusions from a typology of the markers, made as methodical and critical as possible. The first one questions the concept of grave marker (why and according to which criteria do the Greeks mark their tombs?), the second one studies how the Mediterranean koinè and italiot melting-pot influenced the Magna Graecia markers, in order to have a better understanding of the acculturation and circulation processes.