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JennGM
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| Posted: Sept 19 2011 at 4:21pm | IP Logged
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I was thinking of bringing our nature study group to a cemetery or two during November.
One thing I would like to do is grave rubbing, which MaryM had shared before (I'll put the link here when I find it.)
The two or three cemeteries around here have stones dating back to Revolutionary and/or Civil War periods. There are various aspects to observe, but I was hoping that I could get some resources or ideas on explaining what we see.
--Different kinds of stone used. What kinds?
--Weather has worn away some or all of the writing. What kind is better and more durable, or will all stone eventually look like this?
--Lichen build-up. Why some stone and not others? Is it where the stones are (shade, under trees)?
--black spots or streaking -- from pollution in rain? Mold?
--some of the older stones have been half-buried over time...you cannot read the full stone. How does this happen (break down of organic materials, rain washing up more dirt)?
Anyway, these are some of the observations. One place had a huge groundhog hole in front of one stone, and another opening near a tree. Very neat.
Where can I find some help and ideas regarding this?
Would it be okay to clean grave markers? If they are older, would that damage them? Just wet rags, no chemicals?
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Jennifer G. Miller
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MaryM
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Jenn, did you find this old thread? There are some links and ideas there. If you google "cemetery geology" there are lots of links. I don't have time to sort them right now for the ones that would be most fitting, but there are some that would provide info related to the questions you are looking at.
Great nature study trip!!
JennGM wrote:
Would it be okay to clean grave markers? If they are older, would that damage them? Just wet rags, no chemicals? |
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I think you definitely need to ask someone at the cemetery about this to make sure. They could tell you what would be appropriate. And grave rubbings would be discouraged on really old gravestones as they could be very fragile. Not sure where I've read the etiquette on that - will check and link.
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Mary M. in Denver
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JennGM
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Thanks, Mary. I forgot to go back and find that link. I knew it had stuff.
I need to find out more about the stone and lichen...and answers to my questions. I can observe these things, but don't know everything about it.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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JennGM
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To answer my own question, Cleaning Cemetery Tombstones.
I think I'll avoid touching the old ones.
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Servant2theKing
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Oh Jenn, what a lovely idea! I don't have any input on gravestones, but thought you might be interested in the book, "God's Acre", subtitled "The flowers and animals of the parish churchyard", authored by Francesca Greenoak; illustrations by Clare Roberts; published in 1985 by E. P. Dutton. If you are able to lay hands on a copy before your visits, it would surely lend charm and insight to your explorations of older cemeteries. The author devotes a few pages to discussing various types of lichen that inhabit cemeteries and makes special note of the difference between those that grow on limestone and those found on sandstone grave markers.
The book's main focus is "churchyards" or cemeteries in England and Wales ~ but, you'll find it a virtual "Country Diary of an Edwardian Visit to a Local Cemetery" ~ it truly echoes the loveliest nature journals, both in text and its wonderful illustrations! I've always had a special fondness for cemeteries and "God's Acre" only deepens that connection.
When we lived near a local cemetery, we often took walks or rode bikes through the "old" section of the cemetery, on our way to visit family members' graves in the "new" Catholic section. We used to be part of a group of parishioners that met on Summer evenings to pray the Rosary in front of a beautiful outdoor altar on a small knoll overlooking the entire the Catholic section of the same cemetery. You've inspired me to attempt a special trip back there, if possible, for All Souls Day ~ perhaps we can capture some rubbings of family graves!
May your cemetery visits be filled with much grace for all who join you, as well as for the souls you might pray for while you're there.
ETA Here's a link on amazon, where there are several used copies of God's acre available dirt cheap:
">God's Acre
Here's a bit on lichen (pertaining to cemeteries in England, but still interesting):
"However, grassland is only one of the many habitats to be found within churchyards. Headstones in particular have an ecology of their own, and one of the most overlooked, but intrinsically important elements of the churchyard is the growth of lichens on the stones. The different greys, greens and yellows give a sense of age to the churchyard and a feeling of warmth to the stones. Lichens are an example of 'symbiosis', the relationship between living organisms in which each organism depends on the other. Lichens are a mixture of a fungus and an alga, the fungal body providing the matrix for the alga to live and the alga providing food for the fungus through photosynthesis. They are extremely sensitive to change and need a very precise microclimate in which to survive. This is why you will find different lichen species on the front, back and tops of headstones. For example, one of the most common lichen species, the Xanthorias (bright orange) thrive on the nutrient-rich tops of headstones where bird droppings accumulate. If a headstone is moved out, as often happened in the 1970s to ease management, the likelihood is that the lichens will not survive. In Britain we have around 1,500 different species of lichen and of these 300 can only be found in rural churchyards, possibly due to the diversity of stone types and the lower atmospheric pollution levels in rural areas." Taken from here: Article
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St. Ann
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Jenn, this is such a great idea!
When we lived in Munich we discovered the cemeteries to be among the most beautiful nature walks in and around town.
An oasis amidst the bustle of big city life.
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dolorsofmary
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wow what a great idea, I'll have to do this in November! Thank you!
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JennGM
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I'm bumping this. This is our week to visit cemeteries all over town. Today will be the one that dates back to War of American Independence.
The one near our church has a neat addition -- someone put Confederate flags on all the graves of the Confederate Soldiers. Definitely something you don't see everyday.
Due to the graves being older, I'm not going to do rubbing today. I'm nervous about old limestone.
That is another aspect of graves -- understanding the kinds of rock and minerals that withstand the years.
But perhaps Friday we'll do a rubbing at another cemetery.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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MaryM
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How has this been going, Jenn? I was going to add that in the very old cemetery with limestone gravestones, the caretakers would probably have a heart attack about anyone doing rubbings, so it's good you aren't.
We did our visit Thursday. Had hoped to go on All Souls, but it snowed and was very cold). There was still snow on the ground but lots warmer. Haven't been out there when there was snow so that was a different look to the whole area.
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JennGM
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I'd like to type our gravestones, because I'm not sure.
We didn't do rubbing, but we had a wonderful afternoon on Tuesday. Just gorgeous day in the 60s, sunny. The children really loved looking over the graveyard, were quite reverent, and then we had a wonderful time drawing and watercoloring in our notebooks. I'd mark it as one of the top nature study outtings of all for me.
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lapazfarm
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My son recently took some pics at our beautiful local cemetery. Thought I'd share one with you:
You can see the strong Russian influence in the many Orthodox crosses (only one of which you can see in this photo).
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Erin
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Theresa
Beautiful!!
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MaryM
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Oh my, Theresa - yes, that is totally amazing. What a rich history there and such a beautiful setting... (where is the jaw-dropping icon?)
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lapazfarm
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Thank you! I will pass the compliments on to my son!
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dolorsofmary
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beautiful photograph!
I took my son with me to all souls day mass and then we went to the catholic local cemetary. We don't anyone of our own there because we are transplants. There were several small mousoleums and then a very very large one, the size of a large church and place for saying a mass. The day before, All Saints Day, we discussed about the 1st martyrs in the roman colloseum and the catacombs and we felt that we were in a modern day catacomb. Really cool.
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Erin
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dolorsofmary wrote:
| I took my son with me to all souls day mass and then we went to the catholic local cemetary. We don't anyone of our own there because we are transplants. |
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Dolors
We're the same, transplants, and so I had never taken my dc to the cemetery on All Souls. This year I had discovered that many of our priests and nuns had been buried in our old town cemetery so we went to their graves and prayed. Definitely will go there again next year  .
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4Real Forums : Exploring God's Creation in Nature and Science
Topic: Cemeteries and Nature
