grave marker

A grave marker is another term for headstone, tombstone, and grave stone. The words are used synonymously as all serve to "mark" the location of a grave. However, not all grave markers are made of stone. In some cultures and/or communities grave markers may be made of wood or other materials and may contain no family information other than that symbolized in its construction, although burial or sexton records are typically maintained. In some burial grounds or cemeteries a wooden fence or other enclosure may surround a grave or a grouping of graves, with plantings of wild flowers, carvings or other ornamentation, and wooden crosses or a mound of stones might be used in place of a solitary stone. There are many variations. The beautifully situated Birch Hill Cemetery in Fairbanks, Alaska is one such example.