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1	The Necrogeography of Melungeon Cemeteries in Central Appalachia Tejada, Sherry Lynn 08 May 2008 (has links) Previous historical and cultural geographic studies of the cemetery suggest that gravemarkers are surrogates for ethnicity and cultural assimilation. While studies of this type among single ethnic groups are common, examination of the multiethnic cemetery has largely been ignored. This study focuses on the necrogeography (regional burial practices) of the Melungeons, an understudied and underrepresented minority group. Their diverse ancestry purportedly includes a mixture of European, Native American, and African heritage. They have settled primarily in the Central Appalachian region, and more specifically within Hancock County, Tennessee. Their traditional burial practices include the construction of a unique gravehouse. I conducted personal interviews with Melungeons, religious leaders, and cemetery workers to determine the social meanings attached to these unique gravemarkers. I inspected 116 cemeteries located within Hancock County. A Melungeon Burial Index (MBI) was calculated based on the number and type of gravemarkers in individual cemeteries. The MBI acts a cultural inventory to measure varying degrees of Melungeon burial assimilation. Next, I interpreted the spatial patterns of assimilation to describe qualities of material cultural diffusion in the area. My findings show that traditional gravehouses are gradually being abandoned by the residents and over 93% of cemeteries exhibit complete burial assimilation. This suggests that gravehouse construction, a material and cultural practice of a U.S. minority group, has ended. / Master of Science Central Appalachian culture cemetery necrogeography assimilation Melungeon gravehouse
2	Melungeon Portraits: Lived Experience and Identity Stachowicz, Tamara L. 22 October 2013 (has links) No description available. American Studies Cognitive Psychology Cultural Anthropology Developmental Psychology Epistemology Ethnic Studies Families and Family Life Individual and Family Studies Minority and Ethnic Groups Psychology Social Psychology Social Research Sociology portraiture phenomenology identity social identity collective identity ethnic identity Appalachia Melungeon tri-racial mountaineer social movements identity movement social identity theory leadership

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The Necrogeography of Melungeon Cemeteries in Central Appalachia

Melungeon Portraits: Lived Experience and Identity