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By creating a
gravestone rubbing a carver's skill can be preserved, or
an ancestor's stone recorded and appreciated.. However,
gravestone rubbing is also fast becoming a controversial
subject to the point that some locations have banned the
practice in order to prevent further damage to the
gravestones. And while you may not see damage
immediately, there is little doubt that various types of
damage can be caused. Some of the types of damage that
have been found to be attributed directly to the rubbing
process include:
1) The rubbing over the
edges of the letters/carving can cause a breakdown of
the edges' crusts. This allows moisture into the stone
which over the years causes damage. And, according to
conservators, some stones get so much moisture/water
that they've seen stones explode inside. You may think
you are the only person who ever does a rubbing of a
stone, but times your unknown damage times all the
others who might do the same.
2) Many of the older
stones that have been exposed to harsh weather
conditions over time become not only worn down to the
point where you need to take a rubbing, but fragile to
the point where there may be damaged if pressure is
applied to the surface as happens in rubbing Also, there
may be cracks, previous breaks and adhesive repairs (in
many cases it has been found that the adhesive used in
repairing a stone can create a bond harder than the
stone itself which can cause additional damage), or
defoliating stone with air pockets inside the stone that
could cause it to break when the pressure is applied.
You should not attempt to do a rubbing on any stone that
is showing signs of deteriorating, or showing evidence
of being unsound or weakened such as flaking, splitting,
blistered, cracked, or unstable on its base. You can
also gently tap on the stone to see if it sounds solid
or if there is a hollow sound.
3) If you use newsprint,
you need to be aware that it is acidic.
4) Several types of
crayon have wax and other emollients in it, which if
left on the stone eventually act with acid rain and
other chemicals in the air to work on the crust of the
stone. Again, this allows water to accumulate inside the
stone. |
