HEADSTONES IN HISTORY

Humankind has celebrated our ancestors since the beginning of time. We, as different civilizations, have honored and remembered our dead in many ways across the globe. But one thing that most places still use this day is a marker to both identify the deceased and praise the persons life.

The earliest known cemetery, dating back about 8500 years, is a newly discovered burial grounds in Groß Fredenwalde, Germany where to date they have discovered the remains of 9 people buried just outside of the small town. This discovery only solidifies our understanding that we as a civilization have been honoring our dead for much longer than we realize.

Marking our loved ones after burial has taken many shapes over the years since the idea of burial. Many materials have been used both as temporary and more permanent ways to identify and memorialize our loved ones who have passed. In many parts of the world, what is used depends on what the area has available. Not only have these evolved from what they are made but how they were seen and used. Originally, the tombstone was used to cover and seal a stone coffin as much as identify who was inside.  These memorial headstones, also known as tombstones and gravestones in todays vernacular, sit upright at the head of the grave and can give a plethora of information besides the name of the person.  Some modern-day headstones can include anything from the persons name, date they were born and died, an epitaph or endearment to the departed, graphics usually pertaining to the decedent and other details about the persons life. In more recent times, especially in more affluent areas, companion markers are used for married people who choose to be buried beside each other and want a single headstone representing both of their names.

TYPES OF HEADSTONES

Upright Headstones
These commonly are made up of two pieces: The upright portion called the Die or Tablet and the bottom portion called the Base. Sometimes flower vases are attached to the vase at one or both ends of the base for decoration.

Flat Memorials
Also called Grass or Flush markers, these are markers that typically are even with ground level and are inserted into the ground. the top face is the only part that is usually showing with this type of memorial and they are the simplest form or memorial.
Beveled Memorials
Beveled Markers or Memorials are also called Pillow Markers and are simple memorials that are 2 inches taller on the back side of the memorial that the front. This angeled front gives a good vantage point for reading the memorial face.

Slanted Memorials
Slant Memorials or Markers have a much more vertical pitch versus the Beveled version and can be read at a greater distance. These monuments can either be used on their own or with a base to
add a vase.

TYPES OF EDGES

Polished Edges
Polished edges and surfaces are super smooth and have an incredible luster; they often are equated with glass. After the granite has been brought from the ground, they are sawn into slabs, and polished iwth a course abrasive to get each side semi-smooth. The sides are then polished with finer and finer abrasives until the desires qaulity is achieved. A final buffing process is used to give the granite that final shine. Most monuments have at least
one polished edge.
Sawn Edges
Sawn Edges are smooth, but may have lines that can been seen from the saw blade that was used. These are the sides that generally will not been seen after installation of your monument.






Rock Edges
Rock Edges, or Rock Pitched as it is sometimes called, are rough, rock surfaces that have literally been broken, or pitched, by hand using old fashioned tools of the trade. To get this effect, one must use a and chisel or guillotine to cut the stone where it needs to be done. This is a very common edge for headstone bases as it is very economical.



MONUMENT BASES

Here at Carved Impressions, we use one of three bases with our Upright Headstones. Please check the listing you are interesting in to see which type of base that accompanies particular stone
Rock Pitch Edge Base
with Polished Top
On this base, it features the standard polished top in which the headstone rests and the rock pitch, or rouch rock edge, that faces outward around the four edges. This is the most popular of all bases and is also the most affordable option.

Polished Margin Base
with Polished Top
This base features the same Polished Top for which the heastone to sit upon, but also has approximately 2" of polished stone down from the top around the sides with the rest of the sides being in the rough rock style. This gives the base a little classier look, but does cost a small amount more.
Polished Beveled Base
with Polished Top
A beveled slant front is featured on this base with the same polished top as the other two. This front polished slant can be used when the stone front itself doesn't have much room for carving. Often this base is only used with certain headstones.

Double Processing of Monuments, sometimes called a 'Frost'

Preserving History while Protecting the Future
In the engraving of monuments, the depth of cutting is very important to an enduring presentation of the stone. We strive to engrave each stone to a depth that ensures the natural shadowing effect of the carved inscriptions that will be readable for eternity. In order to ensure a high standard of quality, we always use a 'double process' on each stone with designs that call for “Flashed Panels”. These are the areas of a design where the polish is removed to create a contrast to make inscriptions stand out.
The reason we double process is that this protects the carving with the cleanest lines creating the sharpest engraving. There is a significant difference in doing this and we commit the time to do so over a single process. This ensures that your monument will be readable for lifetimes, not just yours, or even a few years.

This is our promise to you.

A GLOSSARY OF TERMS

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