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Cemetery Miscellaneous. View All Memorial Rocks. Memorial Trees. Memorial Garden Rocks. Large Memorial Rocks. Keepsake Rocks. Weathering of the gravestones in St Pancras Gardens will probably be dominated by chemical weathering brought about by the acute atmospheric pollution of London, particularly in the vicinity of Euston Road where there is a concentration of vehicle exhaust fumes, containing sulphur oxides and nitrogen oxides.

The form of weathering observed on gravestones is a product of four interconnected factors and how they vary both spatially and temporally i. Some Forms, such as flakes on sandstone or surface roughening on marble, may indicate the operation of particular weathering agents such as salts or acid rain.

However, these Forms are only visible because they occur on particular Materials which decay in that manner in the presence of those agents. Often the presence of a weathering agent is taken to imply the operation of a certain Process. The details of these Processes are often unclear or unknown, but in a particular Environment, combinations of Processes are more common than a single, isolated Process.

Despite this, weathering rates and decay Forms are often presented as resulting from a particular Process. Even when identical Materials are in the same Environment, they can react in different ways to the same sets of weathering agents and produce very different weathering forms. Variations in Material properties on the same gravestone can also produce different Forms and rates of weathering upon that gravestone.

Variations in grain size and resistance of minerals in granitic gravestones, for example, can result in the preferential removal of particular mineral grains. Location of graveyard: Environment could be urban or rural, coastal or inland for example. This definition, however, can change over time. An area that was once rural or suburban can become incorporated into the polluted urban sprawl, thereby altering the weathering Environment experienced by the gravestone.

Within the graveyard: There may be variations in the exposure of different gravestones depending on the proximity of trees and footpaths or the position of the gravestone on a slope. Environment can be viewed as the presence or absence of particular weathering agents or the operation of particular Processes, depending on the location of the gravestone. Marble, for example, is assumed to decay mainly through dissolution by acidic rainfall natural rainfall is slightly acidic, being a weak carbonic acid with a pH of 5.

This removes matrix and grains from the surface of the gravestone leaving a rough 'sugary' feel. Often a specific weathering Process is believed to produce a specific weathering Form, for example, in coastal environments, salt weathering is thought to be the main Process producing crumbling and flaking. There is an assumption of a one-to-one relationship between Process and Form, i.

However, this is not necessarily the case. Processes never work in isolation from a particular Environment or upon a particular Material. Often the flake can remain attached to the surface for so long that organisms begin to live in the gap between the flake and the gravestone, possibly causing biological weathering of the surface. Eventually the flake becomes detached, leaving an uneven surface.

Different rates of detachment produce a rough and discoloured surface which can be very friable. Black crusts can be deposited on sandstone gravestones. These result from the deposition of particulate matter such as soot, but can also form by the reaction of sulfur dioxide and calcium carbonate that may be present.

Lower parts of gravestones can be preferentially weathered, possibly because of capillary rise concentrating moisture in the lower section of the gravestone. Above: William Jones' grave in St. Pancras Gardens is composed of sandstone and exhibits an uneven surface, a black crust, and preferential weathering at its base. However, it is noticeable how fossils in limestone tend to be more resistant and thus protrude from the stone below.

This is due to their crystalline structure, unlike the surrounding limestone which comprises grains cemented together. Popular images include angels and crosses, with accompanying text of shortened hymns or verses. When it comes to headstones, not every culture or region has used the same materials historically. In North America, between and , wooden headstones were used to mark the graves of Civil War soldiers. Over time, marble replaced wood as a more durable material.

Marble was a popular choice for headstones in Greece because of its ethereal beauty. However, it was eventually discovered that marble was not ideal for memorialization because of the softness of the stone. During the Victorian era, granite became a more popular material for headstones due to its durability. To this day, it remains one of the most common materials for headstones, in addition to bronze. While bronze was a prominent material for memorial markers in China, it was also used throughout the 10th and 11th centuries in Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, India and Italy.

Bronze and granite materials are available in different colors, grades and varieties. Other materials include concrete or cement, as well as fieldstone, limestone and sandstone.

The symbols that appear on headstones differ from culture to culture, too. For instance, the anchor is a symbol of steadfastness. Early Christians used it as a disguised symbol of the cross. Books or scrolls, on the other hand, often signify faith for Early Evangelists. Angels , candles and flowers may also be used to denote a form of religion.

The angel, for example, may appear in many different poses, each with its own individual meaning. An angel with open wings is thought to represent the flight of the soul to heaven.

Angels may also be shown carrying the deceased in their arms as if escorting them to heaven. A weeping angel symbolizes grief, especially mourning an unexpected death. And, an angel blowing a trumpet may depict the Day of Judgment for Christians across cultures.

Other symbols include animals, such as a lion to protect a grave from unwanted spirits. It symbolizes the bravery and courage of the departed. This is common on Jewish headstones. Different Asian cultures will feature the dharma wheel or lotus flower on their memorials.