Thursday, February 27, 2014

Different Styles For Gravestones

By Olivia Banks


When making plans for one's burial, it is a common practice to have a commemorative plaque or some type of monument to place atop their interment site. Inscribed with the individual's name along with the dates on which they were born and died, and occasionally an epitaph, it is a way for one to leave their mark upon the world. There are literally thousands of design options for Graves Headstones.

Stones have been used to show burial locations throughout most of recorded time. In the beginning these were simply piles of rocks but over the years people eventually began to carve words, symbols and numbers into them as a way of personalizing the place of interment. As civilizations grew, the monuments became more elaborate and informative.
Cemetery Headstones


Placed at the head of a grave, these markers usually bare the name of the person buried there, as well as their birthday and the day of their passing. They may be one of several variations of upright stones in an endless array of shapes, or they could be a low profile slab of metal or rock. Some of the more common designs are tablets, crosses and pedestals with urns or angels on top.

Granite slabs which stand upright on their own or on top of a horizontal base are the most commonly used designed in cemeteries all over the world. Versatility means they may be of simple geometric design or given a bit of flair by shaping the tops into scrolls or domes or cutting them into the form of religious symbols. Many couples and families that are to be interred in the same plot often have each individual's information inscribed on the same stone.

There are two basic variations on the simple flat slab, keeping the clean lines and low profile but adding a bit of flair. The beveled stone still has the wide base but raises the rear edge up to four inches higher than the forward one. A gravestone that is slanted will be built with the engraved surface at a forty-five degree angle for easier reading.

The Victorian era tombstones found in some of the oldest graveyards were the inspiration for the modern Gothic tablet style. These borrow the elaborate scrolling lines, ornate arches and detailed angles that were indicative of that period's architectural designs used in churches. They have a classic and interesting beauty.

Another impressive monument style is the obelisk, which resembles a tapering tower with smooth, flat sides. This design was quite popular in the time of the ancient Egyptians and sometimes has figures such as angels, eagles or pyramids perched on its pointed top. These are merely a small example of the many variations of grave headstones now available.




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