Hi List, I got the following form another list. Hope this info. clears up some graveyard mysteries for some of you. Dating Tombstones One way to help find the era your ancestor was buried is to examine the material from which the tombstone is made. If your ancestor has a stone made of slate or common fieldstone (except wood used by pioneers), chances are the stone dates from 1796-1830. * If the stone is flat-topped hard marble, dates are about 1830-1849. * If the "mystery" stone is round or pointed soft marble with cursive inscriptions, look for a date of 1845-1868. * Masonic four-sided stones began in 1850 and are still in use today. * Pylons, columns and all exotic-style monuments are usually dated 1860-1900. * Zinc monuments date from 1870-1900. * Granite, now common, came into use about 1900. If the writing is too faded to read, use a 75 watt black light bulb in any lamp that casts light directly on the written message. The writing will miraculously appear. Katherine White-Duke http://www.dreamwater.com/wylchild/tree/wyltree.html Durham County, NC Genealogy Webpage, Coordinator Part of the US GenWeb Project http://www.rootsweb.com/~ncdurham/index.html Discover North Carolina Genealogy WebRing http://www.accessgenealogy.com/rings/nc/ Discover Hawaii Genealogy WebRing http://www.accessgenealogy.com/rings/hi/ Don't let your dreams be clouded, Aim your sights high. Search your true feelings, And reach for the sky.