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• Many of the symbols carved on a gravestone reflected the nationality of the deceased.
• A Celtic cross might symbolize someone who came from Ireland or Scotland, and an iron cross might denote the German-Russian peoples.
• Some of the common carvings on tombstones in South Dakota were flowers, gates, butterflies and broken rings. Flowers symbolized condolences, grief or sorrow, while closed roses meant brevity of earthly existence. A gate symbolized the open gateway from earth to heaven. A broken ring meant the family circle was severed. A lamb was often seen on the gravestones of those under 16 and meant inno

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