Contemporary tombstone inscriptions in the Griva cemetery in Daugavpils as inspiration for a scientific research on national identity

The memorial inscriptions found in the Griva cemetery in Daugavpils [Latvia] are a valuable source for scientific research on borderland communities. As well as being a multilingual region the Daugavpils area is characterized by mixed marriages, particularly between people of Polish and Russian origin. The religion of those who have deceased is of the most lasting importance; that which is understood as passed down from generation to generation. The language used in the inscriptions is the result of a complex decision-making process. This takes into account not only religious and national identity but also the will of the deceased, their place of burial and local traditions.