In 1977, James Deetz, in In Small Things F o r g o t t e n , proposed that distinct regional traditions developed in the colonies and that they should be reflected in material c u l t u r e . ' At that time, colonial gravestone studies had focussed pri m a r i l y upon the rich gravestone imagery of N ew England. More recently, the scope of gravestone studies has expanded to include other regions and a more h o listic analysis of gravestone attributes. Few studies, however, have attempted to

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... e regional comparisons which m ight reveal and explain cultural differences. The present study analyzes gravestones and burial practices from colonial Tidewater Virginia. Gravestone form, procurement, distribution, inscriptions and epitaphs are analyzed to discover h o w they relate to the complexity and h ierarchical nature of Virginia society. An examination of burial patterns reveals their link to settlement patterns. These findings are then compared t o discoveries from N ew England m o r t u a r y studies, to explain the similarities and differences o f the two cultures.