Sandstone Grave Markers and Cemeteries of Sewanee, Tennessee

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In today's episode of The Cemetery Detective, Keith explores the cemeteries around Sewanee, Tennessee searching for Sandstone Grave Markers.

In my mind, cemetery research and geology go hand-in-hand. Understanding geology helps me understand the types of and the uses of certain gravestone materials.

Sewanee, Tennessee lies high atop the Cumberland Plateau. The Cumberland Plateau is geologically significant. With a natural sandstone cap, sandstone is locally abundant. Because of this availability, grave monument artists have used local sandstone for generations.
Not all sandstone is the same. Area sandstone comes in several varieties.

The various strata include:
Rockcastle Conglomerate
Vandever Formation
2 Forms of Coal
Newton Sandstone
Whitwell Shale
Rockland Coal
Sewanee Sandstone at the base.

Each layer has different properties based on color and granulation. Therefore some sandstone is better suited for building material and some stone is more conducive to use in gravestones.
An aesthetic component of many sandstone is the formation of Liesegang Rings. Monument experts simply refer to these rings as "Swirls." Liesegang Rings are formed when and Iron-rich fluid percolates through the stone after it has hardened. The more intricate the swirl pattern the more aesthetically appealing the stone.
Below Sewanee's sandstone cap lies a vast layer of limestone.

Since most river water is slightly (weakly) acidic, limestone is dissolved away forming caves and valleys. Buggy Top Cave is an ideal example of a limestone cave which has been dissolved by penetrating groundwater.

The limestone in the area also lends to its use in local cemeteries. I will be exploring more about Limestone Gravestones in the Tennessee Valley in an upcoming Cemetery Research Documentary.

In today’s video, I explored:
Martin Cemetery
Unknown Cemetery
Monteagle Cemetery
Eastern Star Cemetery
University Cemetery
O’Dear Cemetery
St. Mary’s Convent Cemetery
Wise Cemetery
Sherwood Cemetery

To understand the natural occurrence of sandstone in Sewanee, I visited:
Sewanee Natural Arch
Buggy Top Trail
Buggy Top Cave

I learned a tremendous amount about sandstone from experts who patiently shared their knowledge with me:
Liesegang Rings
Sources of Stones and the Forming of a Gravestone

If you enjoy my cemetery research, please support my efforts:
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Видео Sandstone Grave Markers and Cemeteries of Sewanee, Tennessee канала The Cemetery Detective