A tent grave, also known as a comb grave, is a unique burial marker, primarily found in the Appalachian region (especially Tennessee), featuring two stone or metal slabs leaned together to form an inverted 'V' or tent shape over the grave, protecting it from animals and weather, and serving as a distinctive folk art memorial.
According to oral tradition, the graves were first built in the 1800s to deter grave robbers and to protect sunken graves from being exposed to the surface. It also may have been a purely stylistic choice that became popular in the region.
Type of grave
Broadly speaking, graves are basically divided into four types: public graveyards, private graveyards, communal graveyards, and permanent memorial graves. In addition, as lifestyles have changed in recent years, you can choose from a variety of memorial services such as bone-cutting and tree burial.
The tradition of leaving coins on military veterans tombstones have a distinct meaning. A coin left on a headstone or at the grave site is meant as a message to the deceased soldier's family. Leaving a Penny at the grave means simply that you visited.
You should never touch coins—or anything else—left on a gravestone because every token has a personal meaning. These items are not simply left behind by accident—they're meaningful symbols for grieving families.
There is absolutely no truth to this age-old superstition — neither ghosts nor ghouls can be conjured by simply stepping on a gravesite. In fact, stepping on a grave may be considered rude or disrespectful in some cultures, but it won't wake the dead from their slumber.
A dime means you and the deceased veteran served together in some capacity. A quarter is very significant because it means that you were there when that veteran died. The tradition of leaving coins on the headstones of military men and women can be traced to as far back as the Roman Empire.
Symbol of Remembrance and Visitation
The simple act of leaving stones on graves signifies that someone has visited the grave, paying respects to the departed. This tradition is particularly meaningful in cultures where the visitation of graves is a common practice.
First and foremost, profanity or derogatory language should never be engraved on a headstone. This includes any words or phrases that may be considered offensive, vulgar or disrespectful. Using such language not only dishonours the memory of the deceased but can also offend other visitors to the gravesite.
One particular aspect refers to the position you're buried relates to one of the spouse. Typically, the husband is buried on the left, whereas the wife should be on the right, as you're standing at their feet.
Alkaline hydrolysis (also called biocremation, resomation, flameless cremation, aquamation or water cremation) is a process for the disposal of human and animal remains using lye and heat; it is an alternative to burial, cremation, or sky burial.
Flat Markers – The most affordable type. They sit flush with the ground and require less material and labor. Upright Headstones – The classic standing design. These are heavier (check how much a headstone weighs), require more stone, and usually have a higher price.
Cenotaph. A memorial or headstone placed on a grave where the physical body is not present. Historically, cenotaphs have been used to memorialize or to commemorate the deaths of those lost in war, or are at rest in another part of the world. TOP.
To Symbolize Their Visit
Many people leave stones on a loved one's grave or memorial to mark their visit. The symbol of the stone can bring comfort to family and friends, letting them know their loved one has been visited, grieved and prayed for by others, too.
If you've considered asking, “how long do you stay buried in a cemetery?” the answer is typically 100 years or more. Plots are sold for 50 to 100 years, but it's unusual to remove anyone from the burial grounds unless the need for space requires it.
Leaving coins on a headstone is a poignant way to honor loved ones, particularly among military families. Each coin carries specific meanings: a penny signifies visitation, a nickel represents training together, a dime indicates service alongside the deceased, and a quarter shows presence at their passing.
Challenge coins are small medallions that represent an achievement, membership, or affiliation to a specific group. In the military and veteran community, they often symbolize a special event or mission, anniversary, meeting with a leader, or affiliation with a unit.
There are those who feel that these random pennies are actually placed there for us to find by loved ones who've passed. They believe our deceased loved ones are giving us a sign to let us know they are okay.
Headstones placed at the feet help maintain clean sightlines and consistent spacing across burial rows. This design reflects a shift toward cemeteries as serene, park-like environments rather than crowded graveyards. Uniform placement also simplifies future planning.
Before leaving the cemetery, the deceased's loved ones may toss a handful of dirt or soil on the coffin, urn or vault. Put simply, this is to symbolize that the deceased (like all of us) has returned to basic elements we all came from.
Fingers pointing upward are a very common cemetery symbol. They indicate that the departed has gone to heaven and beckons grieving loved ones to look up. It can also mean the pathway to heaven or confirmation of life after death.
In many cultures worldwide, people place pennies on graves to show respect for the deceased and symbolize remembrance. The practice originated in the Middle Ages when pennies were placed on the eyes of the deceased to keep them closed.
Coins can be left on the headstones of civilians as well. The meaning is the same — they're a way of showing respect and remembrance. A nickel means you and the deceased went to the same school. A dime means you worked with the deceased.
Death Literacy
The tradition of leaving coins on the headstones of military personnel can be traced to as far back as the Roman Empire. A coin left on a headstone or at the gravesite is meant as a message to the deceased soldier's family that someone else has visited the grave to pay respect.