INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A new anthropology course at Indian River State College (IRSC) is introducing students to scientific research through a statewide cemetery recording project.
Students record grave markers at Viking Cemetery and Pine Grove Cemetery in Fort Pierce with the data added to a Florida database made available to the public for those interested in tracing family genealogies.
The course is taught by Dr. Kyle Freund, assistant professor of anthropology, and is a collaboration between IRSC, descendants from the local community, and the Florida Public Archaeology Network (FPAN), a statewide organization whose mission is to promote and facilitate conservation, study, and public understanding of Florida’s archaeological heritage.
“By the end of the course, students will gain an appreciation for the importance of preserving our community’s cultural heritage and the destructive risks many local cemeteries face, drawing a connection between the past and present,” said Dr. Freund.
As part of the course, students are systematically recording individual grave markers, including information on the various types of headstones, inscriptions, designs and information and on the general state of preservation. This information is then used to explore issues about burial practices and the diverse ways various cultural groups have commemorated those who have passed.