From: Larry Colen
On Nov 25, 2011, at 8:37 AM, John Sessoms wrote:
From: David Mann
I considered one of my photos of this for the upcoming PUG. It's in
a rather out-of-the-way graveyard on the West Coast that we had a
quick look at last weekend.
I can't figure out what it is or what it was used for. Given its
shape and surroundings I assume it has something to do with burials.
I seem to remember that the rod sticking downwards protrudes below
the base (you can just see it in the centre of the near side).
http://www.multi.net.nz/cemetery-thing/
Any ideas?
The shape of the cutout mimics that of old coffins. There's not
much to scale it by, but it appears to be sized for an infant's or
a small child's coffin. Beyond that, I have not a clue.
I suspect that it may be used for graveside services, to hold the
coffin in the grave, but next to the surface where it's visible.
After everyone goes home, the staff laborers lift the whole assembly
out of the ground, lower the coffin into place, and fill the hole
with dirt. The metal flanges are probably covered with astroturf
during the ceremony.
Could be what they used before someone invented that frame that fits
around the top of the hole with the straps that go across underneath for
lowering the coffin.
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