Recording Nombre De Dios Cemetery
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| Nombre De Dios Cemetery in St. Augustine, Florida |
This location is also known as the place that has "The Great Cross" for obvious reasons...
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| The Great Cross commemorating St. Augustine's 400th Anniversary |
The Catholic Diocese (the cemetery's owners) requested the survey from the Tolomato Cemetery Preservation Association (TCPA). There is a lot of overlapping history between the two cemeteries so this request made sense. The TCPA asked if FPAN would partner with them in the survey and of course we said YES!
So, in the first part of April, our Northeast Regional FPAN team laid out a grid in the cemetery and divided it into 10 meter x 10 meter blocks.
Since this is such a highly visited cemetery, instead of using visually obtrusive pin flags, we marked the blocks' locations with flagged nails.
When we come out to record, the first challenge of the day is locating these unobtrusive markers so we know where we are!
A map is then created to mark where each grave is located within its designated 10 x 10 block (these sketch maps will later be digitized).
With the help of volunteers, we methodically work our way through each block, numbering every headstone with a Field Specimen number. The volunteers then record each headstone by using an Individual Marker Form that looks like this:
As you can see from above, we record the measurements, materials, iconography, and condition of each headstone. In addition, the inscription is recorded precisely as it is written on the headstone. For those CRPT graduates, you know that this includes all misspellings, and illegible letters!
In addition to spending time in such a beautiful cemetery with a fascinating history, we also get to encounter many interesting and interested visitors while we're working!
Text and Photos (except top photo:Trip Advisory) by FPAN Staff: Robbie Boggs