New gravestones replace old ones regularly. Stones become unreadable. A single gravestone is replaced by one listing more than one burial. A name or date is in error and a corrected stone is made. Now, what to do with the old stone.

Far too often, these stones are thrown in creeks and ditches, laid face down for stepping stones, or used as riprap in construction. Then good folks find them, assume they have been stolen from a gravesite, and turn them in to the police or a historical society. The police or society people waste a lot of time tracking down clues only to find the graves were well marked and not vandalized, and the stones are just not wanted.

Don't let this happen if you have a new stone placed at a grave. We have several recommendations about what to do with the old stone so it doesn't become a future problem. The best idea is to bury it under the new stone. In some cases the carving can be ground out and the stone reused on another plot. If it can't be buried or reused, consider totally demolishing it. If it’s a beautiful work of art, donate it to a museum along with a complete history so no one thinks it was stolen. What ever you do, make sure the stone will never turn up at a police station looking for a home.