Headstone

A headstone is one of a number of types of markers used to indicate the placement of a body after burial. They are also referred to as tombstones, gravestones, or grave markers. While the concept of marking a grave appears to be ancient, the types and styles of markers used over the centuries have varied with custom and material availability.

A headstone may be carved or etched with information about the deceased and can be as simple as a flat slab or as elaborate as a large statue. Headstones may also be made from materials other than stone, including metal and concrete. All serve a similar purpose, however: to commemorate the final resting spot of the deceased.

Background

No one is sure how long people have marked graves, but an excavated Neanderthal cemetery dating back more than fifty thousand years revealed that piles of stones were heaped on the graves. It is possible the bodies were covered to protect them from being disinterred by animals, or because of a superstitious belief that the person might rise from the dead. However, it is also possible that the stones were used for the same reason headstones are used: to mark the place where a person was buried.

It was not until relatively modern times that individual markers were used to indicate a specific person's final resting place. Ancient burials were sometimes in mass unmarked graves. In some cases, such as in the ancient Middle East, bodies would be interred for a time in a tomb and then disinterred after decomposition so the bones could be placed in a box called an ossuary in a family crypt. In some cases, when a person died, the family would bury the individual on or near the family's property. When extended family lived close together or lived on the same land for multiple generations, family cemeteries came into being, with all the dead buried near each other. Simple markers made of wood or piles of stones would be used, usually without much in the way of identification. However, the deceased person's family would be able to find the specific location and identify individual graves.

Eventually, burials in many parts of the world began to center around a church or other place of worship. This was because the Catholic Church, which was the dominant religion for many centuries, held that people should be buried on consecrated ground and performed this consecration on land near the churches. It was at this time that individual graves and grave markers became common in Christian countries. Beginning in the middle of the seventeenth century and lasting until the earliest part of the twentieth century, slate or limestone headstones were the norm. These stones included inscriptions with the name of the deceased and the dates of birth and death. They also often included information about family relationships ("Beloved Wife of Joseph and Mother of John," for instance), and possibly a short epithet that might take the form of a poem or an excerpt from a sacred text.

During the seventeenth century, headstones began increasingly to take on religious significance, especially in colonial America. The Puritans who settled in New England believed in predestination. They thought that only a very few people, pre-selected by God, would reach heaven. The rest were destined for eternal punishment. Headstones began to feature engravings of skulls and crossed bones, sometimes with wings but often without. These "death heads" were meant to remind people to live good and righteous lives during their time on earth. This practice would continue into the nineteenth century.

About the nineteenth century, sanitation issues caused people to rethink cemeteries. Cemeteries contained decaying bodies, many of which may have been diseased. This created unhealthy conditions for the living nearby. Cemeteries moved outside the city limits and became park-like, with large stretches of grass and trees. Here, the gravestones continued to serve as a reminder to the living of their ultimate fate; messages to this effect were sometimes carved on the headstones. However, the cemeteries themselves often doubled as picnic grounds and sites for outings. Their resemblance to gardens gave them a peaceful atmosphere that many people enjoyed.

War and the military also impacted the use of headstones. In the days of the American Civil War (1861-1865), the military quickly figured out that rounded wood markers used to mark graves were impractical because they disintegrated too quickly. The military began using markers for all dead that were of consistent shape and composition, with identical engraving styles. The choice of material changed over time, though the overall look was consistent. This practice was used whether the headstone was in a military or a civilian cemetery. The military also kept records of where individuals were buried. This practice became more widespread in civilian cemeteries as well.

Overview

Over the years, nearly any semi-permanent material possible has been used to mark a grave, with the most prevalent being wood and various types of stone. Most contemporary headstones come in one of a few styles. These include flat markers, which are even with the ground; bevel markers, which rise about eight to ten inches above ground level; slant markers, which are about eighteen inches tall at the back and slant down at an angle to a shorter length in the front; monuments, which are flat slabs that may be carved across the top into various shapes and stand eighteen or more inches above the ground; and ledgers, which are long flat slabs that cover the entire grave to a height of about eight inches. In many cases, the choice of stone is a personal one for the family, while in other instances, the cemetery dictates the type of headstone that can be used.

Contemporary stones are usually made of granite but can also be made of bronze or incorporate a bronze plaque. Marble, limestone, fieldstone, cement, soapstone, and stainless steel are also used but are generally less durable than granite and bronze. In an earth-conscious effort, some families have chosen biodegradable resins instead of traditional headstone materials. Modern carving and engraving techniques allow a wide range of customization on headstones, including realistic pictures of the deceased and longer inscriptions than were previously possible. While hammers and chisels were once the primary means of carving stones, modern artisans often use machine cutters, laser etching, and sandblasters. Computer stencil cutting machines may be used to create intricate designs. Some artisans continue to carve some details by hand, but this is more expensive and time-consuming.

Several trends in headstone design emerged in the twenty-first century. For example, the messages written on headstones became increasingly life-focused, celebrating the person's story rather than mourning their death. Some companies offer headstones featuring an engraved quick-response code (QR code) that, when scanned, links the user to a profile about the deceased person's life, accomplishments, family, and other information. Other modern gravestones include a porcelain panel with images engraved in color.

Bibliography

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"History of Government-Furnished Headstones and Markers." United States Department of Veterans Affairs, www.cem.va.gov/history/hmhist.asp. Accessed 25 Mar. 2024.

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