Death of a Cemetery - UNE Glebe Project

Introduction

Welcome to the Glebe Cemetery Project, Phase One website. This site documents the first phase of an ongoing project at St. Peter's Burial Ground (also known as the Glebe Cemetery), East Maitland. The project is a cooperative enterprise between the University of New England and the Maitland City Council. The research and discussion contained in this site was compiled by nine second-year undergraduate archaeology students of the University of New England, and builds on a Conservation Management Plan (CMP), submitted to the Maitland City Council in May 2000.

Taphonomic processes have been investigated as they have lead to the present condition of the Glebe Cemetery site. Vandalism has affected many areas of the site, particularly the northeast quadrant. The issue of vandalism was investigated in terms of it being possibly sectarian and gender based, the vandalism of the crypts, the removal of architectural elements of the graves, and whether there was any evidence of handedness on the vandalised interments. As well as vandalism, the unintentional damage caused by visitors to the site is also a taphonomic process that has affected this site. The taphonomic effect of natural processes were also looked into, including soil movement (such as soil creep and subsidence), weathering, and the effect of flora and fauna on the site. Angle of repose was analysed as it demonstrates the effect of these taphonomic processes.

In the discussion section of this site, the Burra Charter is looked at in relation to the Glebe Cemetery site, in particular to the future conservation of the Cemetery. The significance of the Cemetery is an important issue that has been investigated, as the significance must be established in accordance to the Burra Charter. Virtual reconstruction of the Glebe Cemetery site has also been performed on several interments in the cemetery, as physical reconstruction would be difficult, if not impossible in many areas of the cemetery. Virtual reconstructions do not alter the physical reality of the site, and would also be less expensive than physical reconstruction.

Finally, the data section of this site includes a database of the interments of Glebe Cemetery, and aerial images depicting trends across the site.

For more information on Glebe Cemetery, visit Hunter Valley Genealogy's section about the cemetery.

	HOME \| INTRODUCTION \| METHODOLOGY \| TAPHONOMY \| CONSERVATION \| CONCLUSION
	Death of a Cemetery
*INDEX* INTRODUCTION METHODOLOGY TAPHONOMY Vandalism Natural Processes Flora and Fauna Damage Angle of Repose Unintentional Damage CONSERVATION Significance of Site The Burra Charter DATA CONCLUSION HOME	Introduction SEE ALSO: SITE LOCATION, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Welcome to the Glebe Cemetery Project, Phase One website. This site documents the first phase of an ongoing project at St. Peter's Burial Ground (also known as the Glebe Cemetery), East Maitland. The project is a cooperative enterprise between the University of New England and the Maitland City Council. The research and discussion contained in this site was compiled by nine second-year undergraduate archaeology students of the University of New England, and builds on a Conservation Management Plan (CMP), submitted to the Maitland City Council in May 2000. Taphonomic processes have been investigated as they have lead to the present condition of the Glebe Cemetery site. Vandalism has affected many areas of the site, particularly the northeast quadrant. The issue of vandalism was investigated in terms of it being possibly sectarian and gender based, the vandalism of the crypts, the removal of architectural elements of the graves, and whether there was any evidence of handedness on the vandalised interments. As well as vandalism, the unintentional damage caused by visitors to the site is also a taphonomic process that has affected this site. The taphonomic effect of natural processes were also looked into, including soil movement (such as soil creep and subsidence), weathering, and the effect of flora and fauna on the site. Angle of repose was analysed as it demonstrates the effect of these taphonomic processes. In the discussion section of this site, the Burra Charter is looked at in relation to the Glebe Cemetery site, in particular to the future conservation of the Cemetery. The significance of the Cemetery is an important issue that has been investigated, as the significance must be established in accordance to the Burra Charter. Virtual reconstruction of the Glebe Cemetery site has also been performed on several interments in the cemetery, as physical reconstruction would be difficult, if not impossible in many areas of the cemetery. Virtual reconstructions do not alter the physical reality of the site, and would also be less expensive than physical reconstruction. Finally, the data section of this site includes a database of the interments of Glebe Cemetery, and aerial images depicting trends across the site. For more information on Glebe Cemetery, visit Hunter Valley Genealogy's section about the cemetery.
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