Types of Headstones
A headstone, also known as a tombstone, is a marker that is placed usually at the head of a burial spot in a cemetery. Headstones can be made of various materials such as granite, concrete, marble, iron or sandstone. Usually, the inscription on the headstone contains the individual's name, date of birth and date of death. Other information can be included.
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Upright
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Upright headstones' weight can vary. These headstones stand tall from the ground up. Upright headstones can be made out of various material such as concrete or marble. Block headstones are considered to be upright headstones. These headstones are shaped like a block and they are very thick. Block, upright headstones are very common in graveyards.
Flat Headstones
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Flat headstones are often referred to as ground-level headstones. These headstones are flat and on the ground. They can be up to a couple inches off the ground. If they are more than a couple of inches from the ground they are called raised-top flat headstones.
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Obelisk
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Obelisks are tall and have square bases. The obelisk tapers upward toward the sky. Sometimes the top of the obelisk can have a decoration such as a statue, pyramid or ball. In many cases instead of a decoration at the top of the capital there will be an urn. The obelisk is made up of a base, capital and shaft. Obelisk heights can range from very short to more than 90 inches.
Soldier Headstones
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Union soldiers who served in the Civil War or soldiers who served in the Spanish-American War have a specific style of marble headstone that is upright. The lettering on these headstones is inside a recessed shield. This encompasses the name of the soldier and the military organization.
Confederate Soldiers
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Soldiers who served with the Confederacy in the Civil War have their own type of headstone. These headstones are upright or flat and are made in either granite or marble. There is a Southern Cross of Honor inscribed at the top of the headstone. The inscription contains the soldiers name, military organization and the date of birth and death.
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- Photo Credit www.jupiterimages.com
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Comments
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Anonymous
May 29, 2011
Although this basic information was okay: it would have been nice to have had pictures along each descriptive type - to better illustrate what the headstone types look like.
