How big should a tombstone be?

Standard sizes for single graves are usually 24 by 12, 28 by 16, or 18 by 24 inches. Standard sizes for companion graves are usually 36 by 18 inches or 44 by 14 inches. Make sure the size of your headstone is within the range that your cemetery allows.

What is the difference between a gravestone and a tombstone?

Originally, a tombstone was the stone lid of a stone coffin, or the coffin itself, and a gravestone was the stone slab that was laid over a grave. Now, all three terms are also used for markers placed at the head of the grave.

Are bodies buried in front or behind the headstone?

In the U. S. the predominate system today is for the body to face East. The head stone or grave marker is at the head (west side) of the burial with the writing on the East side of the stone.

How deep is a grave dug?

For the most part, graves dug today are not 6 feet deep. For single gravesites, roughly 4 feet deep is closer to the norm. An exception is double- or even triple-depth plots. In these plots, caskets are “stacked” vertically in the same gravesite.

Do you need permission to put stones on a grave?

Only the person named on the Deed of Grant to a cemetery plot is entitled to put a headstone on a grave, provided that the cemetery allows it. If you do not own the Deed of Grant and place a grave marker on the site, the Registered Grave Owner is legally entitled to remove it or have it removed.

Are tombstones religious?

Headstones play an important part in religious ceremonies and traditions following a burial or cremation. While each religion has its own customs concerning burial, one common quality is respect for the body. In fact, some cemeteries even require a headstone to have at least one religious symbol on the marker.

Why are bodies buried facing west?

Depending on the geographic location of the burial, many Jewish people bury their deceased facing west because they want to face the land of Israel. Many believe that by facing west, they will be positioned to return to their homeland when resurrection finally arrives. A similar burial pattern is present among Muslims.

What is a cemetery tombstone?

Browse Cemetery Tombstone Designs By Clicking On The Images Below A tombstone is a memorial marker that is placed at the gravesite of the deceased. Today, the term is interchangeable with headstone or gravestone, though in the past it was defined as a stone that covered a burial chamber or vault.

What is the history of Tombstone Arizona?

Tombstone is a historic city in Cochise County, Arizona, United States, founded in 1877 by prospector Ed Schieffelin in what was then Pima County, Arizona Territory. It became one of the last boomtowns in the American frontier.

Why is tombstone so popular?

And the O.K. Corral hurls its three desperadoes into eternity each and every day. Tombstone has become something of a magnet for a new generation of residents—baby boomers who cut their teeth on early television westerns such as “The Rifleman,” “Have Gun—Will Travel,” “Wyatt Earp” and “Gunsmoke.”

What was the population of Tombstone in 1910?

The city’s population dwindled to a low of 646 in 1910, but grew to 1,380 by 2010. Tombstone has frequently been noted on lists of unusual place names. Ed Schieffelin was briefly a scout for the U. S. Army headquartered at Camp Huachuca.