I need a little advice from you guys. This weekend I was working on a
couple of stone tablets that had been broken in two and one the halfs
stuck back into the ground flush against each other and the other just
laying down. After removing them from the ground to be cleaned and
'searching' the immediate spot , I found that both of them had bases
about 14"-16" below. They obviously had not been setting in them for
some time. I removed one base to be releveled and found the shattered
remains of the bottom 2" of the marker. The slot is only 2" deep with
about 1/2" space on all four sides when the stone is inserted. The
marker is 43" tall.
OK, my question is:
Should I mortar this stone back into this
original base or make a new one with at least 3 1/2" deep slot?
According to Gravestone Studies, I should have 3" plus 1/2" for every
8-12" above 36". And should I bury the base back to a depth of 14"? I
don't know if this was it's original depth because the grave is badly
sunken and could have 'dragged' the base down with it over the years.
At this level the bottom inscription would still be several inches above
the sod. Or should I raise it to the recommended level of an inch or
two below ground?
I believe using the original base and just an inch below would not be
appropriate support. It has broken of at base level before at some time.
Now whether this was due to insufficient slot depth, torque applied by
the sinking twisting base, something else or a combination..........????
I look forward to the input,
Greg