Adhesives for tombstones

Don Sucha <dsucha [at] ucalgary__ca> writes

>I am of the opinion that when these stones are re-attached to their
>bases, it would be best to use an adhesive that would fail with
>subsequent vandalism attempts ...
>...
>Further, there seems to be few guidelines available for preservation
>and conservation in this context. I am worried that well meaning
>people will go into the cemetery and start gluing things together
>and scraping algae without thought of appropriate procedures. ...

Generally speaking (and for all the good reasons you mention),
resin-based adhesives are not used to re-set individual headstone
units.  Lime/sand mixtures (or modified lime/sand mixtures) are
used--sometimes as a bedding mortar and sometimes as a pointing
mortar for stones that are sitting on small slate spacers.  The
Association for Gravestone Studies can help you with some
guidelines.  They can contacted at

    278 Main Street #207
    Greenfield MA 01301
    413-772-0836
    <info [at] gravestonestudies__org>
    <URL:http://gravestonestudies.org/>.

Molly Lambert
Architectural Conservation
Berkeley, CA USA


                                  ***
                  Conservation DistList Instance 14:2
                  Distributed: Thursday, June 29, 2000
                        Message Id: cdl-14-2-006
                                  ***