I'm not an old man but most of the info shared recently, I have participated in during my childhood and continue some practices now. While talking to my Dad, the other day we talked about how cemeteries seem to be so much better cared for than they were in the past. With the advent of vaults, we no longer see the deely sunken graves that were so common in old cemeteries. I can remember, as a child, playing in cemeteries where you could lie completely hidden in a sunken grave while playing at soldiers or kick the can. I knew that when the coffins rotted away that naturally the graves would collapse but did not realize until Dad told me that when graves were dug that just above the level of the casket a shelf was dug on each side and boards were laid across the shelf to cover the casket. This further contributed to the extreme sunken condition of old graves when that shelf also collased. Also, at the close of the funeral ceremony and in the presence of the family, the grave was closed. Men would step into the grave and straddle the coffin while shovels of dirt were handed down until the boards were completely covered as to not create an unpleasant sound, a further sign of respect for the dead and the family.