The History of Grave Stones

Human cultures have always marked the burial sites of their dead. Prehistoric probably used rocks or sticks. As cultures evolved, burial sites became more elaborate. Soon a system of symbolism emerged that helped the living commemorate the dead. In the days before federal income tax laws were enacted in the early 20th century, fortunes would be spent on large, showy mausoleums. The cost was considered a good investment because people used the cemetery like a park and would therefore see and admire fancy mausoleums. Cemeteries are no longer seen as a place for people to enjoy the outdoors, so people are less likely to spend money on a large monument.

Colonial Graveyards

Weeping willow

When the Puritans settled in the New World in the 1600s, they brought with them a religion that feared the afterlife. They believed only a chosen few called the "elect" would go to heaven. A less pleasant fate awaited the rest, who were sinners in the hands of an angry God. Gravestone symbols in the colonial period reflect this religious belief system. The "death head," a skull with or without wings, was the standard gravestone engraving and can be seen in many old New England cemeteries. As the concept of the afterlife shifted to a heavenly paradise, we begin to see the weeping willow and urn replace the death head.

Rural Cemetery Movement

A carriage ride in a cemetery (From the collection of the McKinley Presidential Library & Museum)

As the churchyards and graveyards of the colonial era became overcrowded, a new concept of a planned and landscaped cemetery emerged. The Rural Cemetery Movement stressed the cemetery as a retreat for the living. They would be located in the outskirts of town, with rolling hills, flowers, trees and water features. It was common for visitors to picnic, take carriage rides or go for walks in the cemetery. The first "rural cemetery" was Mt. Auburn in Massachusetts in 1831, followed by Laurel Hill in Philadelphia in 1835 and Brooklyn's Green-Wood in 1838. By the Victorian era, almost every community had at least one rural cemetery.

Kinds of Stones

An art deco inspired gravestone

Cemeteries feature beautiful examples of mausoleums, monuments and sculptures. Some are quite elaborate, with ornate carvings and details. Others reflect the style of the times, such as rococo in the late 1800s or art deco in the 1920s. Tree stones were common in the 1880s and 1890s, the height of the Victorian rustic movement. The sarcophagus stone, designed to look like a casket lies inside, was popular in the 19th century. Skyrocketing costs and a general decline in skilled craftsmanship have made elaborate stones cost-prohibitive today.

Greek Revival

A classic Greek Revival mausoleum

The Greek Revival style is a timeless cemetery design choice with its Ionic, Doric or Corinthian columns holding up heavy pediments. The exedra, or bench-style monument, is also Greek in origin. It comes from the days when traditional feasts took place at the gravesite. The exedra served the practical purpose of providing seating for merry-makers.

Cemetery Symbolism

Clasped hands

Many publications explore cemetery symbolism, including "Stories in Stone" by Douglas Keister. Family and friends, or in some cases the deceased themselves, choose standard symbols to reflect the characteristics of the departed. Some popular symbols include the broken column (life cut short), palm (martyrdom), lamb (death of a child), clasped hands (an earthly farewell or a heavenly welcome) and ivy (immortality and friendship), just to name a few.

Gravestones Today

Few people build elaborate mausoleums like this today

Most modern gravestones are modest in size and style. Large family markers are becoming obsolete in favor of a single burial site or a couple's stone. Memorial gardens, with stones that are flush with the earth, are becoming more popular for their obvious advantage in streamlining lawn care. As cremation rates continue to rise, columbarium use has also become more popular.

Resources

• Association for Gravestone Studies