Fragile Grounds: Louisiana's Endangered Cemeteries (America's Third Coast Series)
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.46 (535 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 1496814320 |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 256 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2013-02-10 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
Jessica H. . Manhein, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, is author of The Bone Lady: Life as a Forensic Anthropologist; Trail of Bones: More Cases from the Files of a Forensic Anthropologist; Bone Remains: Cold Cases in Forensic Anthropology; and the mystery novel Floating Souls: The Canal Murders. Her wr
“Louisiana’s coast line is disappearing at an astonishing rate, and while the economic and political toll this is taking and will take on the living is often discussed, its implications for the dead are not even an afterthought. Fragile Grounds is timely, on target, and unique.”Marc R. Here, the authors give us pause to think about coastal erosion’s ramifications on historic cemeteries in the area. Matrana, author of Lost Plantation: The Rise and Fall of Seven Oaks and Lost Plantations of the South
Once lost, that past cannot be recovered.. These burial places link the fragile land to the frailty of the state’s threatened community structures. Fragile Grounds compiles stories and photographs of endangered cemeteries throughout Louisiana’s coastal zone and beyond. Cemeteries fall prey to inland and coastal flooding. Coastal erosion, sinking land, flooding, storm surge, and sea-level rise have led to an inland migration that threatens to unravel the fabric of Louisiana and, by association, hastens the demise of its burial places.As people are forced inland, migrants abandon, neglect, or often overlook cemeteries as part of the cultural landscape. Not only do cemeteries give comfort for the living, but they also serve as a vital link to the past. Cemeteries lose out to forces such as expansion, eminent domain, and urban neglect. As cities grow outward, urban sprawl takes over the landscape. Yet many are endangered due to recurring natural and man-made events. The book highlights the state’s vibrant diversity by showing its unique burial customs and traditions, while it also identifies the urgent need for ongoing documentation of cultural elements at risk.Cemeteries associated with the culturally rich communities of Louisiana reflect the history and global settlement patterns of the state. Nearly 80 percent of the nation’s coastal land loss occurs in Louisiana. In terms of erosion, when the land goes, the cemetery goes wi