Cemetery Monument Maintenance

Cumberland Research Group. Inc.

Do not move stones or fragments from where you find them, as where they are found is initially the best evidence for where they belong. However, there are many severe situations in neglected and/or vandalized cemeteries, or simply damage caused by acts of nature, where exceptions must be made to this rule in order to save certain surface markers from total destruction and loss. These gravestones have been removed from original burial sites and placed together on a cement pad. Photos by Joan Dawdy Wilton

Cumberland Research Group. Inc. is located in Murfreesboro, Tn. They are based around a core of associates with over sixty years of combined experience in the fields of Archaeology, History and Historic Preservation. The golden rule of historic preservation is ?EUR??,,????'??don?EUR??,,????'???t do anything you can?EUR??,,????'???t undo?EUR??,,????'?? and this should be the basic philosophy of conservation efforts at any historic cemetery.

Preliminary Survey and Photo-documentation

Documenting existing conditions in the cemetery is critical before physical conservation work can begin. Initially, clear only enough brush and debris to allow access to the cemetery. Immediately begin the work of photographing and surveying the cemetery through detailed notation, systemized forms, and mapping. Photograph the site from several different angles and photograph all the markers in the condition they are found. Do not move stones or fragments from where you find them as where they are found is initially the best evidence for where they belong. After the preliminary survey is complete, tree limbs, undesirable vegetation, trash and second growth trees can be safely removed.

Document any information you can derive from the marker such as inscription, dimensions, etc. prior to moving any buried marker. This is a very small family in a farmer’s field. There are in total, eight gravestones and with the exception of the first small marker, all inscriptions are in very good condition and easily read. These grave markers have obviously been removed from their original sites and imbedded upright in concrete.

Survey Mapping

At this point in the project all graves should be visible on the surface either by surface marker or rectangular surface depression. Where there are no grave markers visible on the surface probe the soil systematically to locate sunken markers. Always photograph the uncovered stone before attempting to move it because some heavily delaminated stones will fall apart as you try to extract them. Document any information you can derive from the marker such as inscription, dimensions, etc. prior to moving any buried marker. After excavation, make sure to keep the marker with the grave where it belongs.

Record all required information from the marker on a survey form and take photographs showing the repair work on the marker in progress.

Before and after Do not attempt to clean a stone that is cracking, flaking or scaling. The solution used to clean stone monuments should only remove the biological staining on the stone leaving the patination intact and a gravemarker that remains visually antique, yet clean rather than new.

The cemetery is completely absorbed into the surrounding woods, although the growth is somewhat smaller than the woods generally, suggesting that it was cleared perhaps 20-25 years ago, and subsequently re-absorbed back into the woods.

Cleaning and Repair of Gravemarkers

Simplistically, the golden rule of historic preservation is ?EUR??,,????'??don?EUR??,,????'???t do anything you can?EUR??,,????'???t undo?EUR??,,????'?? and this should be the basic philosophy of conservation efforts at any historic cemetery. However, there are many severe situations in neglected and/or vandalized cemeteries, or simply damage caused by acts of nature, where exceptions must be made to this rule in order to save certain surface markers from total destruction and loss. Where at all possible, the higher stated standard will be adhered to and reversibility considered.

All aspects of any conservation should be documented by detailed notation and photography as project-specific conservation reports, that should include standardized forms and a photographic record of each corresponding surface markers documenting existing conditions prior to improvement, and the amendment of those inventory forms as the project progresses to document any conservation methods and materials used during the project. The primary objective of the conservation projects is to stabilize, conserve and improve the physical condition of the grounds and surface markers in a cemetery while building a database for future conservation and management of that cemetery.

Take a series of photos to complete the ?EUR??,,????'??before?EUR??,,????'?? and ?EUR??,,????'??after?EUR??,,????'?? documentation of the conservation project. Forward these photos and the survey forms and map to the archives or historian in the county/city where the project is located. Professional conservators invariably write a technical report specific to the cemetery they are conserving in order to replicate the methods and materials used and document the conditions before and after the conservation effort.

Cleaning

The Association for Gravestone Studies offers some specific information on cleaning gravemakers including online documents; Review and Evaluation of Selected Brand Name Materials for Cleaning Gravestones, and Tools and Materials for Gravestone Cleaning Projects. There are many other good sources of information on how to clean markers including the Save Texas Cemeteries organization which offers some excellent stone cleaning advice as does the Connecticut Gravestone Network and the Saving Graves website. Do not attempt to clean a stone that is cracking, flaking or scaling. The solution used to clean stone monuments should only remove the biological staining on the stone leaving the patination intact and a gravemarker that remains visually antique, yet clean rather than new.

The golden rule of historic preservation is ?EUR??,,????'??don?EUR??,,????'???t do anything you can?EUR??,,????'???t undo?EUR??,,????'?? and this should be the basic philosophy of conservation efforts at any historic cemetery.

With buried markers, always photograph the uncovered stone before attempting to move it because some heavily delaminated stones will fall apart as you try to extract them. Document any information you can derive from the marker such as inscription, dimensions, etc.

Final Cleanup and Photo Documentation

When all the markers are in their proper place and repaired the remaining small brush and weeds can be removed and the cemetery mowed or weed-whipped. Take a series of photos to complete the ?EUR??,,????'??before?EUR??,,????'?? and ?EUR??,,????'??after?EUR??,,????'?? documentation of the conservation project. Forward these photos and the survey forms and map to the archives or historian in the county/city where the project is located. Professional conservators invariably write a technical report specific to the cemetery they are conserving in order to replicate the methods and materials used and document the conditions before and after the conservation effort. These are usually filed with the local archives and become part of the historical fabric of the conserved cemetery.

Document the conservation effort, as these are usually filed with the local archives and become part of the historical fabric of the conserved cemetery. This stone reads: Little Hattie, Too pure for Earth. At the top is an angel (God’s messenger) carrying a sleeping child. Children’s stones often had a lamb (innocence, God’s flock), flowers (resurrection) or buds (mortal life unblossomed).

Ongoing Maintenance

The cemetery should occasionally be revisited to clean out fallen limbs, maintain the trees, and mow the grass. Also document all signs of deterioration and vandalism. The most important part of revisiting the site is monitoring the repairs. As cemetery conservancy is a relatively new discipline, the methods and materials used to accomplish cemetery conservancy must be consistently monitored so we can learn what is successful and what isn?EUR??,,????'???t.

716B South Church St. Murfreesboro, TN. 37130 Telephone: 615-476-7342 Fax: 866-644-0573 ?EUR??,,????'??+ email: dshaw@cumberlandresearch.org for general information.