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PRESERVATION
48 BRIEFS
Preserving Grave Markers in
Historic Cemeteries
Mary F. Striegel, Frances Gale, Jason Church, &
Debbie Dietrich-Smith
National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Technical Preservation Services
Cemeteries found across the country are not only
places of burial, but they also provide a vivid record
of community history. Whether large or small, well
maintained or neglected, historic cemeteries are an
important part of our cultural landscape. The vast
richness of expression through form, decoration and
materials informs our understanding of the individuals
buried in historic cemeteries and their cultural
signifi cance.
While cemeteries are often considered to be perpetual,
their most prominent feature—the grave markers—
are not. They weather, naturally decay, often are
poorly maintained and repaired and, on occasion,
are vandalized (Fig. 1). Grave markers are usually
noteworthy not only for their inscriptions but also for
their craftsmanship. Exceptional markers are considered
works of art.
This Preservation Brief focuses on a single aspect of
historic cemetery preservation—providing guidance
for owners, property managers, administrators, in-
house maintenance staff , volunteers, and others who
Figure 1. Sandstone and slate grave markers in the Ancient
Burying Ground in New London, CT, display a variety of weathering
conditions. Markers in the cemetery date from the mid-17th to the
early 19th centuries. Photo: Jason Church.
are responsible for or are interested in preserving and
protecting grave markers. Besides describing grave
marker materials and the risk factors that contribute to
their decay, the Brief provides guidance for assessing
their conditions and discusses maintenance programs
and various preservation treatments.
Also identifi ed are a number of excellent references that
address materials used in all grave markers, including
several other Preservation Briefs (listed in Additional
Reading). This Brief highlights particular issues that
should be considered with historic grave markers.
Types of Traditional Grave Markers
The great variety in the types of grave markers is a
fascinating aspect of the study and appreciation of
historic cemeteries. Three broad categories can be used
to describe grave markers—(1) single-element, (2)
multiple-element, and (3) structures. Single-element
grave markers are stone, cast iron, or wood elements
that are set in a vertical position or placed as a horizontal
slab on the ground (Fig. 2). Early examples of this
simplest type of grave markers are fi eld stone and basic
wooden or wrought iron crosses, with the name of the
deceased person scratched into or engraved on the
marker. Often, these rudimentary grave markers are
overlooked, signifi cantly deteriorated, or lost. Vertical
stone slabs and large stone ledgers laid horizontally over
the gravesite are more sophisticated examples of this
type.
Multiple-element grave markers are found in a number
of diff erent forms (Fig. 3). In the most typical form, a
grave marker would consist of two stones—an upper
headstone placed on top of a base stone. The upper
headstone may be secured in a number of diff erent ways
to the base. In the simplest of forms, the upper stone was
placed on the base, set in a bed of mortar on top of the
base, or joined with pins and mortar. With a “tab-and-
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