This section provides links to gravestones illustrating a variety of early carved image styles. The style categories are listed in approximate chronological order. Within each style category the gravestones are listed in chronological order.

Included in the tour are some of the outstanding old gravestones on Cape Cod. Some of these are considered historical treasures based on age, condition and carved features.

This tour is an expanded version of a slide presentation which has been given many times on Cape Cod.

Most graves in the 1600's were unmarked or marked with mounds of earth, stones or wood posts all of which have long since disappeared. Some graves had permanent markers in the form of roughly inscribed fieldstones. All the following inscribed fieldstone examples are from the 1700's because I have not yet found an inscribed fieldstone from the 1600's on Cape Cod.

There are three slate gravestones dated 1683 which are the oldest to be found on Cape Cod.

There are less than 20 original slate gravestones dated before 1700 ever recorded on Cape Cod. Some of these no longer exist or are unreadable. In addition to the three 1683 gravestones listed above, here in chronological order are the other gravestones from the 1600's.

There are a few gravestones from the early 1700's displaying winged heads but they are rare. Some may have been produced later in the 1700's and back dated.

There are a few gravestones from the early 1700's displaying flowers but they are rare.

It is estimated that up to 1750 at least 90% of the gravestones displayed winged skulls. The oldest stones have grim images suggesting pessimism about the soul ascending to heaven. Note the use of symbols such as bones, hourglass or flames of hell. Also note the ornate borders on the oldest gravestones.

A few tapered cradle end gravestones for children can be found. A gravestone with a double tympanum at times was used for twins.

A few gravestones displaying oversized heads relative to the wings can be found from the 1720's and 1730's.

Starting in the mid 1700's the winged skulls became less grim and somewhat benign suggesting more optimism about the soul getting to heaven. The skulls become more round in shape. Some have crossed bones. Note the borders became less ornate. This is the most common eighteenth century gravestone image with hundreds to be found on Cape Cod.

From the 1760's to the 1780's several carvers produced scary skulls with wicked grins, deep gouged eye and nose holes, large bones and often no wings. These are dramatic gravestones but this style did not last long. This is a period when winged heads were increasing in popularity.

These winged skulls have their wing tips raised off the tympanum base or are actually flying above the tympanum base. This image suggests increased optimism about the soul ascending to heaven. The flying skulls marked the end of the use of winged skull images on gravestones.

Between 1750 - 1800 winged heads steadily increased and winged skulls decreased in popularity. For that time period Cape Cod gravestones display about an equal number of winged heads and winged skulls. For our purposes a carved image is defined as a skull if teeth are showing. The following images represent a transition stage by combining some elements of a skull and a head in the same carving.

These gravestones displayed abstract heads with unusual wing structure. Note the unusual mouth marks including heart and bird suggesting the soul leaving the body through the mouth. These gravestones generally are found in poor condition because they were caved on a poor quality Plymouth area slate which has not withstood the ravages of time.

These abstract heads by Plymouth area carvers had no wings but their long hair provided the power for the soul to ascend to heaven.

There are a few sandstone gravestones on Cape Cod made by Connecticut River Valley carvers. Most show considerable surface erosion.

Gravestones displaying winged heads became popular after 1750. There are a few hundred gravestones with winged heads on Cape Cod produced by several carvers. See the Carver section of the web site for many more examples of the work by the individual carvers.

Gravestones displaying winged heads with wing tips raised off the tympanum base or actually flying were popular in the late 1700's and early 1800's. There are a few hundred gravestones with flying winged heads on Cape Cod produced by several carvers. These flying heads marked the close of the use of winged head images on gravestones.

There are a few gravestones from the late 1700's which display realistic figures from the waist up. There are no wings involved. These are confident, worldly appearing figures.

These are large horizontal gravestones supported above ground which provide space for long inscriptions. They generally were used for prominent citizens. Some were installed as memorials many years after the death. These memorials sometimes cover the original gravestone. The horizontal position results in surface erosion making the stones difficult to read.

Please advise whether you like this new Quick Tour of gravestone styles. It is patterned after a slide presentation based on the web site. Should this feature be expanded? Please e-mail