A gravestone is a marker, usually made of stone, that stands at the place where someone is buried. Gravestones typically display the person's name, birth date, and death date, along with a brief message or phrase chosen by their family. You might see words like “Beloved Mother” or “Forever in Our Hearts” carved into the stone.

When you walk through an old cemetery, you're surrounded by gravestones that serve as permanent memorials to people who lived decades or even centuries ago. Some gravestones are simple rectangular slabs, while others feature elaborate carvings of angels, crosses, flowers, or symbols meaningful to the person's life. In military cemeteries, thousands of identical white gravestones stand in precise rows, honoring soldiers who served their country.

Gravestones help the living remember and honor those who have died. Families visit gravestones to pay respects, leave flowers, or simply feel connected to someone they miss. Historical gravestones can tell us fascinating details about the past: what diseases people faced, how long they lived, what they valued, and even what language they spoke.

The word is sometimes used interchangeably with headstone or tombstone, though headstone technically refers to a marker at the head of a grave, while tombstone can refer to any grave marker.