Forms of cemetery monument weathering

There are several factors that determine exactly how a gravestone will weather. Weathering is often called “decay” because it involves the damage and removal of materials from cemetery monuments. Weathering depends on factors such as environment and form. “Form” refers to the type of visible weathering that will occur. There are many forms of weathering as a report by the University of Portsmouth explains. Such forms are explained below.

·      Granular disintegration – The report names this form as “sugary” weathering because the mineral grains that are left on the surface of the gravestone after weathering feel like sugar when one runs their hand on it.

·      Flaking – When a piece of the cemetery monument stone breaks off, this is known as “flaking.” Flaking can occur anywhere on the gravestone. One area of the stone can flake several times. That means that several layers of the stone can weather away.

·      Blistering – A “blister” on a stone is just like a blister on skin—it is a “dome or raised surface” on the monument. Blisters often fall by weakening and then flaking.

·      Contour Weathering – A large layer of a stone can fall off as a sheet. This usually happens along the stone’s carvings.

·      Pitting – A “pit,” or depression in the gravestone can range in size from less than one millimeter to greater than ten millimeters.

·      Black Crusts – A black crust is a “black deposit.” The report writes, “[o]n marble gravestones these crusts often have ‘cauliflower’ forms at the micro-scale.” This shows the complexity of the deposits. A black crust can form in either dry or wet areas of a gravestone. If the gravestone is dry, then the black crust probably formed with the presence of calcium sulphate. If the cemetery was relatively wet, then the crust is likely formed by the deposition of soot.

·      Organic Forms – In relatively wet areas, lichen may grow in tombstones. In addition, if the area is very wet, there may even be moss. It has not been determined whether or not the presence of organic materials accelerates or decelerates weathering. Still, they affect the appearance of the gravestone.

What is an "unveiling" of a cemetery monument?

A common Jewish practice to honor the dead is the unveiling. This refers to a graveside ceremony where the family of the deceased consecrates their relative’s headstone monument.

What happens at an unveiling?

At an unveiling, the cemetery monument is shown to the public. Often, it is covered with a veil, handkerchief or cloth. This is a ceremony that typically occurs up to one year after the funeral and burial. At the ceremony, family members and friends recite prayers and passages including Psalms, a prayer for the dead and sometimes the prayer Kaddish. Participants can also give a eulogy. A Rabbi usually officiates this service.
According to the group Chabad's Website, removing the veil, handkerchief or cloth from the gravestone represents the “erection of the tombstone.” Any family member can remove the veil.

Tradition

As explained in a previous blog, many people at the unveiling follow the Jewish tradition of placing a small rock or pebble on the headstone. This is one way to show one’s presence at the gravesite. In this instance, individuals may leave a pebble on the tombstone to respect and honor the dead and to also show their presence.

It is interesting to note that Chabad considers eating and drinking at the cemetery to be in “poor taste.” Not eating or drinking at a cemetery is to show respect for mourners and the dead. It is also a relatively new custom. Many years ago, it would take a very long time to reach a cemetery. This was due to less advanced methods of transportation, so it was acceptable to eat a small amount of food at the cemetery. However, this was done away from the graves.

What do plants on tombstones mean?

Certain plants have specific meanings when they are found on cemetery monuments. For some cemetery visitors, viewing many gravestones can be a way to find solace. These gravestone viewers will most likely find out that many of the cemetery monuments contain carvings of plants. Each plant represents something different as explained in a previous blog. The September / October 2000 edition of Ancestry Magazine offers explanations to the meaning behind some of the most common plants.

Morning glories, flowers that can, as their name suggests, bloom in the morning are symbols for the “beginning of life.” When the tragedy of a baby’s death occurs, a carving of a morning glory may be appropriate for that baby’s gravestone.

Oak branches, leaves or acorns are often found on military graves, according to the magazine. That is appropriate because their meaning indicates, “power, authority, or victory.” In addition, this interpretation makes sense, as oaks are sturdy trees.

Palm branches indicate, “victory and rejoicing.”

Poppies are flowers, which can be made into a dangerous drug that may induce sleep. Perhaps that is why the magazine names their meaning an “eternal sleep.”

Rosemary is one of the world’s finest, most expensive spices. It offers a flavor and essence that is rarely forgotten. That can be associated with the meaning of a carved rosemary leaf: “remembrance.” This is a beautiful meaning as well as a great decoration for a monument.

Another plant that can mean “remembrance,” is a thistle. A thistle, though, can have two meanings. Since it is a national symbol of Scotland, a thistle may even indicate that the person buried under that monument was from Scotland or was of Scottish descent.

Pet cemeteries: for devout owners

Pets, their cemeteries and their tombstones

Some pet owners choose to have their deceased pets cremated and others choose burial. Just like cemeteries for humans, pet cemeteries offer pre-need options for pet owners. That way, there is no tension when the animal passes away.

For many people, any burial offers closure. It gives them a chance to remember their loved ones, let them “rest in peace,” and to begin the next step of the journey of life.

All pet owners handle the death of their pet differently. They can choose to utilize the services of a pet cemetery and have a burial ceremony or can simply choose to have the pet buried without a ceremony. Each owner has different preferences for their pet. If the animal is buried at a pet cemetery, then pet owners will choose a monument to remember their pet. Often, these monuments are smaller than a person’s headstone or other type of grave maker. That is not always the case, however. The country’s oldest pet cemetery, established in 1896 by a veterinarian, is located in Hartsdale, New York. For reference, this is approximately a forty-five minute drive out of New York City. At that cemetery, there is a large (10’x10’) canine mausoleum that dates back to the early twentieth century.

Just like many human gravestones, many pet monuments can have an interesting design. Decorations may be a ceramic portrait or an etched paw print. Some pet owners at Hartsdale’s pet cemetery choose to include an epitaph on the grave marker. There are a number of standard epitaphs for pets. Some deal with loyalty and others deal with God and heaven.

Marble Tombstones & Their Restoration

Marble is a rather durable material for a cemetery monument, but where does marble come from and how is it formed?

Origins of marble

Marble comes from a Greek word that roughly means, “shining stone,” according to Wikipedia. In most European languages, the word follows the pronunciation of the Greek word. English is an exception. The stone, especially when polished, can be quite shiny. This may also depend on its exact color. In general, the color of marble depends on where it comes from. For example, Swedish marble often has a green hue. However, we usually imagine cemetery gravestones to be made out of white marble. The stone can be found at quarries throughout the planet.

The geology of marble

Marble is a metamorphic rock. That means it used to be another type of rock, but then due to heat or pressure, its structure was altered into that of marble. A marble stone comes from limestone or dolomite. Over time, the grains in the limestone or dolomite, morph into crystals, thus changing the rock. The marble cross headstone shown below is white with very little variations in color. Therefore, the rock that metamorphosed into this gravestone was probably silica-poor. It is possible to create artificial marble, but that type of stone may not be as strong as real marble. For that reason, pure marble makes a better headstone. It can be carved into various shapes, as shown by the cross-shaped headstone below. Throughout time, artists have used this cherished material to create sculptures and engravings.

 

The veins found in other marble stones are the result of mineral impurities that crystallize.

Drawbacks

Due to marble’s composition, over time, rainwater can affect marble grave markers. Over many years, rain can interact with the stone and can make engraved letters hard to read. Luckily, there are restoration processes. It is entirely possible to take an old monument and make it look like new.

Tips to preserve cemetery monuments when creating rubbings

Cemeteries are places were memories reside. As a result, many people wish to take a piece of that cemetery with them. That is why cemetery visitors create gravestone rubbings. They usually use paper and pencil or a piece of graphite to create a lasting impression of engraved text on a tombstone, headstone or other grave marker. This practice is also popular at war memorial monuments.

 

Tips and advice

One should be respectful and responsible when visiting cemeteries. There are many ways to rub lettering or to clean lettering that would actually damage the monument. For that reason, there are a few tips to make sure that one does not damage the deceased’s cherished monuments. They are as follows and are adapted from the Association for Gravestone Studies:

·      You might feel that your rubbing will be ruined by the presence of moss or lichen. Most of the time it is safe to take of the moss and not the lichen. The lichen grows with the stone, so if you attempted to scrape it off, then you will also be damaging your loved one’s grave-monument. Therefore, it is unwise to scrape off lichen or moss that is stuck firmly to the gravestone.

·      Another way to ruin the grave marker is to rub it in a weak area. Don’t let flaking stone or unstable stone fall off!

·      Never use any substance to clean the gravestone. It should seem obvious that nail polish remover could damage the gravestone. Also, a mild soap can damage the gravestone. If you used any substance to clean the gravestone, the substance might hurt the stone and it would also be hard to remove. Rubbing alcohol could stay on the stone for weeks until a rainstorm washed it off.

·      Do not use a brush to wipe away dust. Something as gentle as this can, by accident, brush away granite. Additionally, a brush with metal bristles could scrape a marble surface.

·      Never perform a rubbing that you have not practiced before. Some cemeteries require permits for rubbing, so be sure to get one, if needed.

·      Do not leave papers, pencils or any other trash near the grave. That is disrespectful and may also take a long time to for someone to clean it up.

It would be wise to follow these tips when visiting a cemetery. Even though monuments can be repaired, it would be disrespectful to damage a tombstone.