FAQs
Why do tombstones sink? - Tombstones are heavy, with a narrow edge set into the
ground. A burial loosens the earth around the grave. As the earth settles, the
weight of the tombstone can press the earth down, causing the tombstone to sink
or tilt slightly. As the years go by, freezing, thawing and heavy rains can
cause the earth to settle more. Sometimes tombstones can completely sink from
sight.
Modern burials often have a hidden horizontal slab under the stone to prevent
sinking, but an older cemetery would not have these hidden slabs.
How do I find an unmarked grave? - Unmarked graves can be difficult to locate.
Sometimes the earth settles roughly in the outline of a burial, sometimes the
earth is smooth. There are row and site markers in Mount Olive. Family plots
are often outlined with small stone corners, usually with the family name (or
plot owner initials) carved into them. Look at ground level for these.
How are the tombstones oriented in the cemetery? - The traditional orientation
for burials is facing East, in the hope and belief of Resurrection.
How do you photograph a tipped tombstone? - Sliding a flexible piece of mylar under the part of the stone
which is not on the ground will enable you to photograph a reflection.
ART IN THE CEMETERY
Many gravestones have crosses or other religious symbols. Some carvings have
traditional meanings...look for this cemetery art throughout Mount Olive
candle - faith as the light of life
palm frond - symbolizes triumphant entry, eternal life and victory over death.
crown and fronds - victoious
entry and sovereignty of the Lord
cross, scriptures and rosary
crown and cross - symbolizes the sovereignty of the Lord
rose - love, representing love.
morning glory - the Resurection, as the flower blooms
in the morning and closes at night
tulip - charity and love
tree - a life cut short
oak leaves - strength, endurance, honor
laurel wreath -victory and remembrance
lily of the valley - innocence, purity and one of the first flowers to bloom in
the spring - renewal
narcissus (daffodil) - reflection
CHILDREN
Special art adorns the graves of children.
baby shoes
lamb - innocence
sleeping dove - peace and purity
TOMBSTONE STYLES
Traditional curved stone. This type of stone has no base and can sink easily.
Often made of marble or limestone, it is also subject to erosion.
Scroll - represents the deceased's name on the Scroll of Life
Obelisk - modeled from ancient Egyptian obelisks, both pointed and
square-topped versions exist.
Tympanium headstone - early 1800s
This type of headstone has no base and can sink easily
in soft ground.
Cradle-style grave, often with a flower urn at the foot.
Initials J.C.B on urn at foot of grave
tab in socket tombstone. bases showing sockets.
Square-cut die in base tombstone.
die, base and capstone tombstone
brass markers were popular grave markers in the early 1900s. the
weather wears very hard on these markers
vaults - vaults are underground structures, usually covered with a table stone
and / or monument
mausoleum - an above-ground burial site. although no
mausoleums are currently at Mount Olive, St. Peters had at least one mausoleum
before it was moved.
Department of Defense - stones provided for military veterans
Civil War
Veterans - 1900s
WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, 
Veterans - flat style, marble
modern style - metal plaques
G.A.R. - the earliest veterans' organization, formed for veterans of the Union
Army.
American Legion - the largest veterans' group today
fraternal organizations - Masonic and Elks emblems adorn the gravestones of
their members
plot marker - these small markers, engraved with family names or plot
locations, often show the boundaries of a family site
FOOTSTONES
Many footstones bear only initials.
Some include sentiments, sculpture or elaborate stone vases.
At Rest
Tombstone – sunken
A military stone, but whose?
Careful work will be required
to raise and re-set it