Headstones to holograms
Headstones, plaques, gravestones, tombstones, and grave markers are all emblems of the deceased’s final resting place. Like many aspects of death, these emblems are steeped in history, rituals and practicality. The inscription, material used, size...
Headstones, plaques, gravestones, tombstones, and grave markers are all emblems of the deceased’s final resting place. Like many aspects of death, these emblems are steeped in history, rituals and practicality. The inscription, material used, size and other features can tell us so much about the person, their social status, their religion, the size of their family and even how they died. The historical significance of grave markers is rich, and deserves more attention than can be given in this space.
It’s believed that headstones or markers date back to Neothilic and Bronze ages. That’s 3000 to 6000 years ago. These were made from wood or stone, placed over a grave as a sign of respect and to mark the location as a gravesite.
Nowadays, there is more to choose from, including slate and sandstone which were popular up until the 1900s, marble, granite, bronze, limestone, iron and so on. Marble was popular for its aesthetic appeal, and usually signifies wealth, but due to its softness and lack of durability its popularity has waned.
As people became literate, the name, age and date of death would be inscribed on the marker to signify who was buried. This in itself would give a clue to the deceased’s social standing, being available to the educated and well off only. Inscribing a sentimental message or quote came along later when more elaborate funerals became customary.
Other inscriptions are used to indicate religion. The dharma wheel or lotus flower is used in Buddhism, a flower represents detachment in Hinduism and in Christian religions the various types of crucifixes, angels, or a hymn or verse are included.
With cremations now accounting for over 70% of interments in Australia, a different type of plaque needs to be considered. Sue Rowe, from Mountain View Crematoria, says that plaque sizes are now smaller. Space availability is an issue, and in the Illawarra, families might order a plaque to go in a commemorative wall of approximately 100 x 135 cm. These are either bronze or chrome and will have a small container behind them in which to store the cremains. Larger plaques are used for plinthes which may go in granite walls. Often the cemetery will dictate the size and type of the plaque.
The challenge, according to Sue, can be trying to fit the entire message requested by the family onto the plaque along with any personal symbols, such as images of pets. The trend towards personalising the whole funeral carries right through to the final resting space.
And the future? Think holograms, digital messages, and scanning QR codes linking to life stories of the deceased and the exact location of their final resting place. In fact, all of this is happening now.
