Unveiling Epitaphic Discourse in GORA Cemetery Rawalpindi, Pakistan: An Archaeo-Semiotic Appraisal

Abstract

This study aims to analyse the archaeo-semiotic discourse inscribed on the gravestones of the soldiers of World War I and World War II buried in Gora Qabristan Christian Cemetery, Rawalpindi. Epitaphic discourse is assessed through the triangulation of the semiotic theory of Roland Barthes, and Paul Wason’s theory of archaeology of rank. The prime objective of the study is to decode the symbols incised on the epitaphs. Epitaphs of soldiers of the British Army are replete with information about the history, culture, archaeology, religious, political and national identities of the deceased ones. The patriotism of soldiers is emphasized through the inscription on military epitaphs. Connotative meanings shed light on religious, historical and cultural aspects. Mortuary facility has been investigated to explore the location of epitaphs and construction material of gravestones by analysing semiotic signs, shapes and sizes of gravestones. Major findings reveal that soldiers’ epitaphs manifest military, social and cultural and historical discourse.