Cemetery

Synonyms / Other Terms Used

Churchyard, Graveyard, Necropolis

Category

Public Facilities, Tourism, Road Signs, Highway Signs, Traffic Signs

Message / Function

For notice in general and to indicate the location of a piece of land used for burying the dead

	Source	Description
	USGS	Latin cross
	Bolivia	Three latin crosses
	Slovenia 2015	Three latin crosses
	Kapitzki	Three rows with a total of eight latin crosses
	KRESZ	Large latin cross in the center, one more on each side
	Iceland 2024	Two latin crosses, horizontal line ending in arc with small latin cross on top
	Siwat V	Latin cross above filled trapezoid and horizontal bar indicating ledger
	RJH	Rectangle with round top on horizontal line indicating tombstone, six-pointed Star of David
	RJH	Rectangle with round top on horizontal line indicating tombstone, Hebrew inscription
	W-RSB	Parallel projection of grave with ledger and headstone
	CNIS	Front view of grave with complex headstone partially in outline
	Dreyfuss	Outline rectangle, inside three horizontal lines, each with two short vertical lines on top indicating tombstones
	Aicher & Krampen	Outline rectangle with five crosses inside

Note: Some of the examples shown above were mirrored horizontally to contrast differences.

Discussion

As the selection above shows, most pictograms available to indicate the location of a piece of land used for burying the dead are closely related to a religion or confession. Neutral variants are rare, and even these are related to the type of graves or grave monuments popular in a specific region. Even the map symbols found apparently correspond to religions or have regional references. No universal visual stereotype can be identified for the intended message.

In our research we did not discover any test data on comprehensibility of pictograms used to indicate the referent Cemetery or Graveyard.

Recommendations

Due to the limited data available and insufficient knowledge of relevant factors, we recommend research using the Comprehensibility Estimation procedure for eliminating poor variants and identifying the best of the set available, followed by a Comprehension Test. These studies should deliver useful data for recommending one or several pictograms. Detailed information about the most frequent responses given in each of the response categories of the Comprehension Test should be provided to correctly judge comprehensibility and improve designs.

Possible individual pictograms will be necessary depending on the intended region and religion.

Tests of pictograms of referent Cemetery

No test data available.