Geology In The Cemetery

Geology In The Cemetery. . , The type of stone used for a grave marker can indicate what year range the gravestone is from. The oldest stones are local Ohio sandstone because early on in Cleveland's history it was difficult and expensive to transport stone over long distances. Once the Erie Canal was complete and, later, with the rail system in place, marble from Italy and granite from the northeast were transported with relative ease. Over time, acid rain and pollution degraded the marble grave markers. Granite overtook marble in popularity because of granite's durability and technological innovations that enabled people to cut through granite's hard surface. There is one other notable type of marker in Monroe Street Cemetery, white bronze (actually made of zinc), which was briefly manufactured by a single company in Connecticut. These metal markers have held up well over time, better than marble. Styles, designs, and decorations of gravestones have changed over time. Many have unique meanings, such as the tree trunk markers. There is much to be learned about changes in culture through the study of gravestones.