graveyard

A graveyard is a place set aside for the burial of human remains. The term is often used interchangeably with cemetery, though graveyards are typically smaller and associated with a church or religious site, while cemeteries are larger, planned burial grounds not tied to a specific church.

Historically, graveyards began as churchyards in medieval Europe, located adjacent to churches where burials occurred within cemeteries managed by religious communities. Over time, concerns about public health and urban growth led many cities to establish independent burial grounds on undeveloped land at some distance from urban centers. In the 19th century, the garden cemetery movement introduced park-like designs that prioritized landscape, circulation, and tranquil surroundings.

Common features include gravestones and other markers, tombs and mausoleums, urn niches or columbaria for cremated remains, family plots, chapels, and well-maintained paths and landscaping. Notable variants include churchyards, municipal cemeteries, garden cemeteries, and military cemeteries, each serving different communities and ceremonial needs. Some graveyards preserve historical graves and monuments, serving as cultural and genealogical resources.

Practices related to graveyards cover interment methods such as in-ground burial and cremation, as well as ongoing memorials through inscriptions and epitaphs. Maintenance is typically provided by religious institutions, municipal authorities, or cemetery trusts, sometimes with private concessionaires. Policies on access, maintenance, and memorial rights vary by jurisdiction.

Administration and regulation reflect the local legal framework, including zoning, health and safety requirements, and, in some cases, heritage protections. Graveyards thus function as spaces for burial, memory, and cultural heritage within communities.