Guide to the Gravestones

On Monday, September 23 our class was assigned to find examples of different types of grave markers. During that class period our class went to St. Patrick Catholic Church and Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St. Paul to find and take pictures of the different types of gravestones.

The inside of the Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St.Paul

The first type of gravestone as well as the most common type is the headstone. Headstones can be described as a slab of stone that comes of of the ground to mark a grave.

Picture of headstones at the from of the St. Patrick's Catholic Church graveyard

The next type of gravestone is a box tomb. This type of gravestone is described as a box that is flush to the ground. The body is not held inside the box tomb but is buried beneath.

Box tomb at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St. Paul

Sarcophaguses are large box-shaped monuments that usually hold the body. Sarcophaguses are often associated with early Egypt and Greece.

Sarcophagus found at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St. Paul

Obelisks are tall structures that oftentimes resemble the Washington monument. These structures can oftentimes have carved fabric draped across the top.

Obelisk found at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St. Paul

Pedestal tombs are similar to obelisks but tend to be shorter and less narrow. Often time their top has an urn or some other detailed carving.

Pedestal with urn found at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St. Paul

Die in socket are basic headstones but instead, if it coming out of the ground it is connected to a slab base. Its called a die in socket because there are metal pieces in the stone that fit into holes or sockets that are drilled into the slab of stone.

Die and socket found at Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St. Paul

Ledgers are coffin-sized slabs of stones that are flush to the ground. Ledgers oftentimes have carvings or inscriptions in the stone.

Ledger found at Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St. Paul

Mausoleums are small buildings that are specifically used for housing tombs. Mausoleums hold generations of deceased family members. They are the most luxurious of the types of gravestones.

Mausoleum found at Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St. Paul

Slant markers are pretty much big blocks of stone that are cut at a slant. These are one of the most simple forms of gravestones.

Slant marker found at Cathedral Church of St. Luke and St. Paul

Die, base, and cap are sort of a mix between a sarcophagus and a box tomb. Like the box tomb, the body buried beneath the monument but is more similar in appearance to a sarcophagus.

Die, base, and cap found at St. Patrick's Catholic Church