footstone

Footstone is a small grave marker placed at the foot of a grave, complementing the headstone or gravestone. It commonly marks the far end of the plot and often carries minimal information such as the initials of the deceased or a short inscription, occasionally including birth and death years. The combination of a headstone and footstone has been common in many cemeteries, particularly in older plots, and can aid in locating a grave when the headstone is not visible or has deteriorated.

Materials vary and include granite, marble, slate, limestone, or concrete. Footstones are usually placed flush with the ground or set slightly above grade, and they may be aligned with the headstone for a uniform grave line. In some cemeteries, footstones are small and unobtrusive; in others they are upright markers. In many regions, the use of footstones declined in modern practice, with some plots omitting a footstone altogether.

In inscriptions, footstones tend to carry the initials or surname and sometimes a year range; modern practice may include fuller names or dates, but the convention is generally briefer than for headstones. Care and maintenance of footstones involves periodic cleaning and protection from moisture and freezing damage; damage can compromise legibility and the ability to identify the grave.

Footstones are part of cemetery records and can be relevant to genealogical research; when present, they should be documented along with headstones.