| Tombstone |
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]] ]] A headstone, '''tombstone''' or '''gravestone''' is a permanent marker, normally carved from Stone , placed over or next to the site of a Burial in a Cemetery or elsewhere. USE , Originally, a tombstone was the stone lid of a stone Coffin , or the coffin itself, and a gravestone was the stone slab that was laid over a Grave . Now all three terms are also used for markers placed at the head of the grave. Originally graves in the 1700s also contained footstones to demarcate the foot end of the grave. Footstones were rarely carved with more than the deceased's initials and year of death, and many Cemeteries and Churchyard s have removed them to make cutting the grass easier. Note however that in many UK cemeteries the principal, and indeed only, marker is placed at the ''foot'' of the grave. Graves and any related memorials are a focus for Mourning and remembrance. The names of relatives are often added to a gravestone over the years, so that one marker may chronicle the passing of an entire family spread over decades. Since gravestones and a plot in a cemetery or churchyard cost money, they are also a symbol of wealth or prominence in a community. Some gravestones were even commissioned and erected to their own memory by people who were still living, as a testament to their wealth and status. In a Christian Context , the very wealthy often erected elaborate Memorials within Church es rather than having simply external gravestones. Crematoria frequently offer similar alternatives for families who do not have a grave to mark, but who want a focus for their mourning and for Remembrance . Carved or cast Commemorative Plaque s inside the crematorium for example may serve this purpose. MATERIALS Most types of Building Materials have been used at some time as markers. The more usual materials include:
A Cemetery may follow national codes of practice or independently prescribe the size and use of certain materials, especially if in a conservation area. Some may limit the placing of a wooden memorial to 6 months after burial, after which a more permanent memorial should be placed. Others may require stones to be of a certain shape or position to facilitate grass-cutting by machines, or hand-held cutters. Cemeteries require regular inspection and maintenance, as stones may . Restoration is a specialised job for a monumental mason; even the removal of overgrowth needs care to avoid damaging the carving. For example, ivy should only be cut at the base roots and left to naturally die off, and never pulled off forcefully. INSCRIPTIONS Markers usually bear s in praise of the deceased or quotations from religious texts. In a few instances the inscription is in the form of a plea, admonishment, testament of faith, claim to fame or even a curse — William Shakespeare 's inscription famously declares; :''Good friend, for Jesus' sake forbear, :''To dig the dust enclosèd here. :''Blest be the man that spares these stones, :''And cursed be he that moves my bones. The basic information on the headstone generally includes the name of the deceased and their date of birth and death. Such information can be useful to Genealogists and Local Historians . Larger cemeteries may require a discrete reference code as well to help accurately fix the location for maintenance. The cemetery owner, church, or, as in the UK , national guidelines might encourage the use of 'tasteful' and accurate wording in inscriptions. Headstone engravers faced their own " Year 2000 Problem " when still-living people, as many as 500,000 the United States alone, pre-purchased headstones with pre-carved death dates beginning 19–. {Link without Title} Bas-relief carvings of a religious nature or of a profile of the deceased can be seen on headstones dating from before the 1800s. Since the invention of photography, a gravestone might include a framed Photograph or Cameo of the deceased; photographic images or artwork (showing the loved one, or some other image relevant to their life, interests or achievements) are sometimes now Engraved onto smooth stone surfaces. ]] Some headstones use lettering made of white metal fixed into the stone, which is easy to read but can be damaged by ivy or frost. Deep carvings on a hard-wearing stone may weather many centuries exposed in graveyards and still remain legible. Those which are fixed on the inside of . FORM AND DECORATION (Devon, England) showing a skull sprouting flowering shoots, as a symbol of resurrection]] headstone of a couple buried together in Singapore , showing an arched emblem, signifying the reunification with one's partner in heaven. Within the arch is a statue of Jesus Christ .]] Gravestones may be simple upright slabs with semi-circular, rounded, gabled, pointed-arched, pedimental, square or other shaped tops. During the 18th Century , they were often decorated with '' Memento Mori '' (symbolic reminders of Death ) such as Skull s or winged skulls (called " Death's Heads "), winged cherub heads, heavenly crowns, urns or the picks and shovels of the grave digger. Somewhat unusual were more elaborate Allegorical Figures , such as Old Father Time , or Emblem s of Trade or Status , or even some event from the life of the deceased (particularly how they died). Later in the same century, large tomb chests or smaller coped chests were commonly used by the Gentry as a means of commemorating a number of members of the same family. In the 19th Century , headstone styles became very diverse, ranging from plain to highly decorated. They might be replaced by more elaborately carved markers, such as Cross es or Angels . Simple curb surrounds, sometimes filled with glass chippings, were popular during the mid- 20th Century . Some form of simple decoration is once more popular. Special emblems on tombstones indicate several familiar themes in the Christian faith. Some examples are:
Greek letters might also be used:
IMAGE GALLERY |
Image:Marx Cemetery 003jpg 18th Century Biedermeier-Headstone From The
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/St_Marx_cemetery" class="copylinks">St Marx Cemetery , Vienna , Austria |
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Image:A04 1705JPGGerman POW<br>
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Camp_Butler_National_Cemetery" class="copylinks">Camp Butler National Cemetery |
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Image:Scipio Africanus Grave 2jpgThe Grave Of The
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Bristol" class="copylinks">Bristol slave known as Scipio Africanus has both head and foot stones It has been restored to its original painted state |
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Image:AnimalGraveTattonParkjpgHeadstone For A Dog At
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Tatton_Park" class="copylinks">Tatton Park , Cheshire , UK |
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Image:Jewish CemeteryjpgA
| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Jewish" class="copylinks">Jewish cemetery in Germany |
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