• TRIANGULAR SLAB: The slab type is most often found along the western edge of the Cumberland Plateau, from McMinnville to the area south of Manchester.  Two flat, rectangular slabs of rock (or more often, concrete) are propped against each other to form the sides.  A flat, triangular piece of the same material forms each end.  The name of the person buried there can be found on a separate headstone, carved on the front end, or carved along one of the sides.

                                   Shofner Lutheran Church,            Caldwell Cemetery in Bells Cove,        Stephenson Cemetery
                                         Bedford Co., TN                           Grundy Co., TN                              Coffee Co., TN

• STEP/LARGE STONE: A three-layer construction, the step/large stone type is found across the area studied.  A few large stones are shaped as long rectangles with square ends.  Two or three of these stones are placed end-to-end in three rows.  Over this layer two rows are set, and a single row rests on top.

                                                             Cemetery on Bill Russell Rd.,        Old Bethel Cemetery in Lynchburg,
                                                                      Bedford Co., TN                              Moore Co., TN

• STEP/LARGE STONE with SHAPED TOP: This is a variation of the step/large stone construction.  The single row on top is replaced by a single stone, shaped in the form of a traditional coffin.

New Hope Baptist Church, Fairfield,
Bedford Co., TN

• STEP/SMALL STONE: This type is constructed on the same principle as the step/large stone type.  The step/small stone variation uses shorter, thinner stones and requires several extra layers.  Sometimes the top row of stones is replaced by a single shaped stone that runs the length of the monument.

Mt. Zion Methodist Church, between Talley
and Belfast, Marshall Co., TN

• SHAPED/STACKED STONE: Next to the slab construction, this type is the nearest to presenting a true triangle.  The outer stones are worked to a diagonal edge on one side and fitted together to preserve the slope of the monument.  As in all construction types, the front and rear ends of the monument are flat.

                                                   New Hope Cemetery, between Cornersville       Beechwood Cemetery, Cornersville,
                                                               and Ostella, Marshall Co., TN                          Marshall Co., TN

• In many cases, the shaped stone monuments are capped by a single shaped stone along the length of the monument.  In one or two     cases, the shaped stone monuments have been topped by a coffin-shaped stone.  In this case, the base of the monument is also laid in a coffin shape, rather than rectangular.

                                                              Bethbirei Presbyterian, Farmington,                  Bethel Cemetery
                                                                        Marshall Co., TN                                  Lincoln Co., TN

Now, see some photos showing the current condition of some of the sites.

Lonsdale MacFarland Green
May 1999
The University of the South

TYPOLOGY || CONDITION OF STONES || AREA INFO || METHODS AND STAGES || LINKS