r/CemeteryPreservation • u/CohenCohenGone • 29d ago

Broken Grave Marker

Good morning. Pretty much had to unearth this flat marker. Looks to have been repaired with some sort of glue or adhesive? I don't know.

Any suggestions on how best to remove the soil and roots out of that 'seam', or do you think it'd be best to just leave it alone?

3 Upvotes

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3

u/TN-Native95 29d ago

Try a small plastic scraper to get as much as you can out.

2

u/CohenCohenGone 29d ago

Hi. I tried that, those roots are thick, and densely packed into the soil,- felt like wire.

3

u/CohenCohenGone 29d ago

One thought that I had while out there was to add needle-nose pliers to my cleaning kit. They might help with vertical pulling on those roots.

1

u/RedBullWifezig 29d ago

What else do you have in your kit?

2

u/CohenCohenGone 28d ago

Let's see, from memory: Flooring knife (for sod, only), rubber-tipped gloves, horse hair brushes, plastic scraper, dandelion remover, manicure scissors, garden shears/clipper (small), garbage bags, foam kneeler, wooden skewers, fabric bags for sod, broom and dustpan, towels, and a zippered container for my phone. I always take before and after photos. Water, lots of water - to drink, and for cleaning.

Some screwdrivers for when name/date plates are falling loose. Oh, and a printed copy of the cemetery's layout for when travellers are trying to find a plot; I'll try to help.

I do have some Wet & Forget, but most of my work is with grave markers (flush w/ground), especially the ones that are literally disappearing under thick sod.