Childrens' Graves in Ross Bay Cemetary, Victoria, B.C.

The data set recorded includes 12 grave markers from Ross Bay Cemetary in Victoria, B.C.  The grave markers belong to children under the age of 10 and are scattered throughout the cemetary.  The graves also appear to belong to caucasian and Japanese individuals.

We were interested in looking at the way in which the memories of these children are memorialized and represented through the use of grave markers.  We were also curious to see how many childrens' grave markers are present at Ross Bay Cemetary.

It was found that most of the grave markers visually represent the memories of the children with similar symbols, such as lamb, angel, and baby motifs.  It is common today for these symbols to signify the innocence and fragility of children.  Since little work has been done on the grave markers of children, it is difficult to see if this is a widespread, cross-cultural practice.

In the Barony of Dunmore in Ireland, many childrens' burial grounds are not even marked (Crombie 1987-88).  Those that are marked often contain stone grave markers, although the use of inscriptions on the grave markers is rare (Crombie 1987-88).  Only three sites exhibit inscribed grave stones in the barony: Addergoole More has three cross inscribed stones, Kinnakinelly has one inscribed stone, and Ballymoat contains one inscription referring to a child (Crombie 1987-88).

In New Mexico, grave markers are used in elaborate fashions to represent the deceased.  For example, a children's grave was marked with "pink and green patio blocks [in the form of] a giant Easter basket, complete with coloured concrete eggs" (Sanborn 1990: 3).  The Paschal Lamb was also noted as a common symbol used on children's grave markers (Sanborn 1990).

With most archaeological work on chidrens' graves focusing on the interred remains and grave goods, more research needs to encompass the distribution of childrens' grave markers and their visual representations, including symbols and inscriptions.


View Children's Graves Ross Bay Cemetary in a larger map

Crombie, Deirdre. 1987-1988. Children's Burial Grounds in the Barony of Dunmore: A Preliminary Note. Journal of the Galway Archaeological and Historical Society, 41, pp. 149-151.

Sanborn, Laura S. 1990. Sacred Places of the Southwest. Places, 7(1), pp. 1-8.