Potter’s field

E629058

Potter’s field is a burial ground traditionally used for the interment of unknown, indigent, or unclaimed individuals.

All labels observed (1)

Label Occurrences
Potter’s field canonical 1

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (47)

Predicate Object
instanceOf burial ground
associatedWith Christian cultural traditions
pauper’s graves
public health concerns in urban areas
unclaimed remains from hospitals and institutions
unidentified remains
culturalConnotation motif in literature and film
symbol of forgotten dead
symbol of social exclusion
documentationPractice burial records often kept by municipal or institutional authorities
grave locations may be recorded on maps rather than individual markers
etymologyFrom Biblical reference to the potter’s field bought with Judas Iscariot’s thirty pieces of silver
governedBy procedures for handling unidentified bodies
waiting periods before burial of unclaimed remains
hasCharacteristic associated with anonymity in death
associated with poverty
associated with social marginalization
graves often unmarked or minimally marked
often funded by local authorities
public burial ground
hasExample City Cemetery, Chicago (historical pauper’s sections) NERFINISHED
Hart Island, New York City NERFINISHED
Randal’s Island burial grounds (historical), New York City NERFINISHED
legalStatus regulated by local burial and public health laws
locatedIn many large cities
some rural jurisdictions
mayContain executed prisoners in some historical contexts
stillborn infants and unidentified children
victims of epidemics
mentionedIn New Testament of the Bible NERFINISHED
operatedBy county governments
municipal governments
state institutions in some jurisdictions
purpose ensure disposal of human remains in accordance with law and public health standards
provide burial for those without means or family claims
relatedConcept mass grave
pauper cemetery
public cemetery
unmarked grave
timePeriod concept in use since at least the Middle Ages in Christian societies
typicalBurialPractice individual graves may be used
limited or no funeral ceremony
mass graves may be used
simple coffins or body bags often used
usedFor burial of indigent individuals
burial of unclaimed individuals
burial of unknown individuals

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Oakland Cemetery, Atlanta, Georgia, United States hasSection Potter’s field
subject surface form: Oakland Cemetery