The Indian burial ground trope is frequently used to explain supernatural events and hauntings in American popular culture. The trope gained popularity in the 1980s, making multiple appearances in horror film and television after its debut in The Amityville Horror (1979). However, in its more recent appearance, the Indian burial ground trope is seen as a cliche and it is commonly used as a satirical element. Background and typology Many variations of the Indian burial ground trope exist, but generally, the Indian burial ground trope follows two archetypes. The first archetype occurs when a building is erected on an ancient Indian burial ground, and the haunted building is soon filled with evil spirits that terrorize its inhabitants. The Amityville Horror (1979) is the paradigmatic example of this first archetype. The second occurs when a person disturbs a burial ground, and a curse is placed upon them. This curse usually follows them around until they placate the spirits by returning the burial ground to its previous, undisturbed state. Less frequently in popular culture, the discovery of an Indian burial ground is akin to discovering gold or buried treasure. Such interpretations appear in Our Miss Brooks and Petticoat Junction; in these representations, the characters are delighted to have stumbled upon Indian burial grounds and ancient artifacts as they could potentially bring revenue or notoriety. Other variations of the Indigenous burial ground trope include attacks from living Indigenous groups rather than spirits after disturbing the burial ground. This variation is frequently used in the Western film genre including The Searchers (1956). Indigenous cultural relevance Indigenous death and burial rituals in the United States Attitudes towards death and burial practices vary greatly across Indigenous cultures in the United States. Most Native American cultures believe that it is improper to have contact with the remains of the deceased. In some Indigenous cultures, the disruption of a dead body may prevent the spirit from peacefully moving into the afterlife. These views, however, are not exclusive to Indigenous cultures, as multiple other cultures, including Ashkenazi, Thai, and various European cultures, believe that the remains of the dead should be respected and remain undisturbed. Strict perspectives on death and burials Traditional Native Hawaiians believe that the spirit of the deceased remains in their bones following their death. The remains of the deceased are believed to be sacred, and great care is taken to respect and honor them. Through