A large selection of non-fiction books for the cemetery enthusiast, wrapped in a blog!
This website is a Taphophile’s book shop and cemetery blog! Here is the link to the full book list: Cultures and Graves Bookshop
The long list is based on my interest in cemeteries and my training in Anthropology. It includes cross-cultural attitudes about death and dying, burial practices, identification of bone, the evolution of cemeteries, discovery of long-ignored slave cemeteries, and more!
My goal is to provide access to books and academic reports from different cultural viewpoints, including:
-African American burials in the early days of New York City
-Why the Catacombs were created near ancient Rome
-How the first “Body Farm” was created in Tennessee. (death investigators in Tennessee asked an Anthropologist for help with analysis of human body decay).
This affiliate link is with the non-profit Bookshop: Buy books online. Support local bookstores. It offers readers a wide variety of topics. A small percentage of the book sales are used to support independent small stores like A Taphophile’s Book Shop! The books shown below are just a sample of what is available from my shop!
African American graves
This site has unmarked graves from over 200 years ago. These burials are an important part of the history of African Americans in New York City. Some are thought to have been slaves. City officials recognized the importance of this location and helped to preserve it as a National Park.
In the book description: The African Burial Ground is the largest and earliest known burial space of African descendants in North America.
From the book description: This slender volume contains 110 entries. Inscriptions from seventy cemeteries and descriptions related to forty others — the culmination of a 1969-1972 project. The Annotated Index to full-names and places includes the number of the paragraph/entry (not the page number). Many index entries contain date of birth, date of death, place of burial and/or other information derived from the text and other sources.
Europe/United Kingdom
From the book description: a journey through the origins of these necropolises. Their development throughout the years, and the period of rediscovery that put these subterranean cemeteries on the map.
My Favorite Churches & Cemeteries of Scotland a book by Katherine Fletcher (bookshop.org)
From the book description: This book is a selection of my favorite Churches and Cemeteries of Scotland. See ancient churches and unusual gravestones. Includes Melrose Abbey, Rosslyn Chapel, St. Giles Church, Glasgow Cathedral and even ancient burial cairns.
United States
From the book description: Like every aspect of life in the Big Apple, how New Yorkers have interacted with death is as diverse as each of the countless individuals who have called the city home. Waves of immigration brought unique burial customs as archaeological excavations uncovered the graves of indigenous Lenapes and enslaved Africans. The 1788 Doctors’ Riot contributed to new laws protecting the deceased. Overcrowding and epidemics led to the construction of the Cemetery Belt, a wide stretch of multi-faith burial grounds throughout Brooklyn and Queens. From experiments in embalming to capital punishment and the far-reaching industry of handling the dead, author K. Krombie unveils a tapestry of stories centered on death in New York.
From the book description: The History of America’s Most Famous Military Cemetery traces the history and legacy of the national park. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about the history of Arlington Cemetery.
Forensic Anthropology
From the book description: A pioneer in forensic anthropology, Dr. Bill Bass created the world’s first laboratory dedicated to the study of human decomposition–three acres on a hillside in Tennessee where human bodies are left to the elements. His research has revolutionized forensic science.
In this riveting book, the renowned bone sleuth explores the rise of modern forensic science and takes readers deep into the real world of crime scene investigation. Beyond the Body Farm is an extraordinary journey through some of the most fascinating investigations of Dr. Bass’s career–and a remarkable look at the high-tech science used to crack the most perplexing cases.
“Earn” a bookmarker!
As the headline indicates, Taphophile’s Book Shop and cemetery blog is not just books! Look below for custom Cultures and Graves items! These make great gifts for your favorite Taphophile! This website has pages dedicated to topics of interest to cemetery enthusiasts. Look at the top and bottom of each page for the list of topics.
Don’t forget to sign up for my free newsletter!
You can “earn” your choice of the Taphophile-themed bookmarkers in the photo above! Simply complete a free trivia quiz! See the page links at the top and bottom of this page for the quizzes!
Taphophile-themed gifts
Use this link to access my Etsy shop for coffee mugs, notebooks, sketchbooks, book bags, candles, t-shirts and more! CulturesandGraves – Etsy
About me
About the author – Cultures and Graves
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