What Is A Tombstone?
A headstone, tombstone, or gravestone is a stele or memorial that is erected above a grave. It is typically made of stone. Among others, it is customary for burials in the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim religions. In most cases, it is inscribed with the deceased’s name, birthdate, and deathdate as well as a personal note or prayer, but it may also have works of funerary art, particularly features in stone relief. In many regions of Europe, placing a deceased person’s photo in a frame is rather common.
Uses Of A Tombstone
One of the earliest types of funerary art is the stele (plural stelae), which is what it is known as in an archaeological context. A gravestone is a stone slab erected over a grave, whereas a tombstone was originally the stone coffin’s lid or the coffin itself. Today, grave markers put at the top of the grave are referred to by all three words. In the 18th century, some tombs included footstones to mark the bottom of the grave. This occasionally progressed into complete kerb sets that demarcated the entire grave’s perimeter. Only the deceased’s initials, the year of death, and occasionally a memorial mason and plot reference number were written on footstones.
What Does A Grave Symbolize?
Older headstones and footstones are frequently discovered inclined at an angle due to soil movement and downhill creep on gentle slopes. The stones may eventually be placed several meters distant from where they originally were due to this movement over time. The focus of grieving and memory is on graves and any associated memorials. Across the years, a gravestone is frequently updated with the names of family members, allowing it to record the demise of an entire family over several decades. Gravestones and a site in a cemetery or churchyard represent wealth or status in a society since they cost money.
Why Were Tombstones Commissioned?
Some gravestones were even ordered and built in memory of the deceased by persons who were still alive as a sign of their wealth and social standing. Christians who were extremely affluent frequently built grandiose memorials within churches as opposed to simple gravestones. Crematoria frequently provide similar substitutes to families that desire a focal point for their sorrow and remembrance but do not have a cemetery to mark. For instance, memorial plaques inside the crematorium that have been carved or cast might be used for this.
The Materials Used On A Tombstone
Particularly in a conservation area, a cemetery may unilaterally specify the size and use of specific materials or adhere to national norms of practice. Some people may say that a wooden memorial may only be erected for the first six months following burial, after which a more permanent memorial must be erected. Others might need stones in a specific location or form to make mowing grass easier. Monumental masons typically design, erect, and maintain headstones made of granite, marble, and other types of stone. Cemeteries need to be inspected and maintained regularly since graves may become overgrown, have their markers stolen, or have their markers vandalized. Stones may also settle, collapse, and very rarely, fall and injure people.
How Much Is A Tombstone In South Africa?
The cost of a tombstone can range from R3 000 to R20 000, depending on its size, the granite you choose, and any embellishments you decide to include. The common price range for tombstones is R3,000 to R30,000, with an average price of R10,000.
