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There's a period shift in gravestone design, which is quite dateable, and well known in Archaeology. I thought it was covered in Renfrew and Bahn, but I can't find it in a brief flick of my 2nd Ed. It's certainly covered in Tarlow though.
Simplified, it goes skull and crossed bones > winged deaths head (with or without bones) > Cherub (with or without bones)
This would be one of the earlier ones, and it's date is about what I would expect.
http://www.histarch.illinois.edu/plymouth/deathshead.html and
http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/2003/2/03.02.01.x.html#g have a bit about the american context of them.
MrDrem
@Rik_Van_Looy
#amuseum
My exhibit is a headstone with refreshing honesty - "we all die, deal with it".
Initially I wondered if it was the work of a 17th century Mr Tourette, but perhaps it just hails from a time where people were more reconciled with their mortality - more dignified perhaps? Better able to make the most of a finite earthly life?
Amusing morbid and inspiring at the same time. It's also up against a church wall reminding us that though our bodies perish our souls are eternal and need to find rest in the creator!!!! - Here endeth the sermon, go in peace...
Shot with a Cybershot DSC-T7, cropped & converted to B&W.