Cemeteries & Human Remains
The NH Division of Historical Resource works hard to protect, preserve and promote the state’s non-renewable resources, including cemeteries and burial grounds
One of NHDHR’s primary duties is to collect, organize, and make available the survey information
collected over the years on the state’s historic resources, including cemeteries and burial grounds.
Identifying where a historic place is and its current appearance and historic features – a process often
called survey or inventory – is an important first step to preserve it. NHDHR has created a
streamlined inventory form for communities and researchers to record marked burial grounds and
marked cemeteries.
Inventory forms that have been completed and returned to our office are made available to the public
in our files and on our GIS-based mapping system, EMMIT. It is therefore very important that all
completed inventory forms are returned to our office so the records can be made available to the
public. Identification and documentation are essential in the protection of historic resources.
DHR Cemetery and Burial Ground Letter
DHR Cemetery and Burial Ground Inventory Form Instructions
DHR Cemetery and Burial Ground Inventory Form
Links to resources:
NH State Laws Regarding Cemeteries
https://www.nhcemetery.org/nh-state-law
NH Cemetery Association
https://www.nhcemetery.org/
“The purpose of the New Hampshire Cemetery Association is to promote the advancement of knowledge in the operation and maintenance of cemeteries, to facilitate the exchange of information, to create and maintain high ethical standards in cemetery administration, both active and historical, and to secure the advantage to be obtained by mutual cooperation.”
NH Old Graveyard Association
http://www.nhoga.com/index.htm
“NHOGA seeks to promote the knowledge of New Hampshire history by bringing together people interested in old graveyards and strive to foster an interest in the discovery, maintenance, records preservation and cataloging of graveyards and cemeteries.”
National Trust for Historic Preservation
https://savingplaces.org/stories/how-to-preserve-historic-cemeteries-and-burial-grounds
“How to Preserve Historic Cemeteries and Burial Grounds”
NPS Preservation Brief #48: “Preserving Grave Markers in Historic Cemeteries”
https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1739/upload/preservation-brief-48-grave-markers.pdf
Listing a cemetery to the State Register of Historic Places
https://www.nhdhr.dncr.nh.gov/registers-recognition/state-register-historic-places
Inadvertently discovered Human Remains?
There are several state laws in New Hampshire governing the disturbance of human burials. The New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources (NHDHR), a division of the New Hampshire Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (NHDNCR), is responsible for the oversight and treatment of human remains associated with unmarked burials. The purpose of such oversight is to extend to these memorials and remains the same kind of respect that any of us would want for the remains of our own ancestors. Individuals wishing to learn more about the discovery of unmarked human remains should review the NHDHR Human Remains Pamphlet and contact the State Archaeologist with any questions by emailing mark.w.doperalski@dncr.nh.gov or calling 603-271-6433.