Welcome!!!  

You arrived at the Rose Hill Cemetary Earthcache. Please park your vehicle here at the gate or just inside, if you prefer. First and foremost, we ask that you show the utmost respect to this cemetery and it’s residents. The terrain is at a "2" simply because it is on a slight grade of a hill, (not completely level), so do take care in walking around. It is open 7 days a week, but best viewed during daylight hours. Exercise the principles of Leave No Trace; take only photos, leave only footprints.  Do not scratch, push, disfigure or vandalize the headstones in any way.  There is a small lane in the middle that can be driven. The stages will take you to the far side of the cemetery and back to the vicinity of your vehicle at the gate/entrance. 

GEOLOGICAL HISTORY

The Paleozoic Era spans from 541 to 252 millions years ago. It is the longest of the Phanerozoic Eras, and is subdivided into several geologic periods. The Cambrian being the oldest; 541 million years to 485 million years ago, to the Permian being the youngest; 299 million to 252 million years ago. When most of the sediments that make up the rocks in Arkansas were being deposited, (during the Carboniferous Period, between 359 million to 299 million years ago), north Arkansas was a shallow sea floor (continental shelf), the Arkansas River Valley was near the edge of the shelf, and the Ouachita area was the deep sea floor. Late in the Paleozoic Era, the northern part of Arkansas, (north of the Arkansas River), referred to as the Boston Mountain Plateau, a/k/a Ozarks, was forced up in an "intact mass"  in the collision with the South American Continent that also formed the Ouachitas Mountains, (south of the Arkansas River).  This created an area known geologically as the "Ozark Dome."

THREE PLATEAUS IN ONE COUNTY!!

 The Ozarks can be divided into 3 plateaus (broad, flat-topped areas) that are separated from each other by steep slopes called escarpments. 1) Salem Plateau – capped by Ordovician age rocks, mostly dolostone 2) Springfield Plateau – capped by Mississippian age rocks, mostly limestone 3) Boston Mountains Plateau – capped by Pennsylvanian age rocks, mostly sandstone The plateaus become progressively higher in elevation and expose younger rocks from north to south in the Ozarks of Arkansas.  Where you are standing is extremely unique.  These three Plateaus come together in one county! This area of the Ozarks, Boone County, Arkansas, is in a valley of the Springfield Plateau. (The largest area of the Springfield Plateau starts in southwestern Missouri into northwestern Arkansas).  To the east of this point, about one-half mile on US. Highway 62-65 Bypass, (the bluff behind the Ford dealership), is a western point of the Salem Plateau.  To the west of the where you are standing is the most north-eastern point of the Boston Mountain Plateau, commonly referred to by the locals as Gaither Mountain.

ROSE HILL CEMETERY HISTORY

 Rose Hill is one of Harrison’s first known cemetery. It's previous names were City Cemetery and Harrison Cemetery.  The land was acquired sometime between 1866 and 1870, by Captain Henry W. Fick, a former Union soldier, as a means of getting revenge with his enemy, the Confederate Captain W. Pace. Captain Fick purchased the land, which was located just across the street from Captain Pace, and then Captain Fick set about talking the city of Harrison into buying the land and use as a cemetery. Within a short time, after the “City Cemetery/Harrison Cemetery” opened, it has been said, that many of the graves located in the Norman Hill (now known as the Fick) Cemetery, (located near the junction of West Project and North Liberty Streets), were moved to this cemetery in 1879.  George C. Cotton purchased the first lot in the City Cemetery.  He died and was buried in early October, 1884.  He rests beneath the first stone you will see today.

The “original” Rose Hill Cemetery is now known as Maplewood Cemetery, which is located about 1 ½ miles from this location.  The Rose-Lovett families were natives of Boone County in the early 1800's and had land located north of Harrison about two miles from the courthouse square.  Part of this land was also sold to the city for a cemetery in 1908. 

 It was named Rose Hill Cemetery for several years. In 1924, members of the Twentieth Century Club convinced the Harrison City Council to change the name of the Rose Hill Cemetery to Maplewood Cemetery in honor of all the hundreds of beautiful maple trees they had planted there and change the name of the City/Harrison Cemetery to Rose Hill Cemetery.  The name changes remain to this day.

 This cemetery is unique in that over 50% of the graves are over 50 years old.  There are several veteran’s graves here dating all the way back to the Spanish American War.  In most cemeteries, you will find mostly granite or marble headstones.

 Due to the age of the Rose Hill Cemetery, you will find that many types of stones were used.  Even materials that are highly unusual to be used for this purpose.  It shows the resourcefulness of the residents of this area in their display of love and devotion to their loved ones that have gone before us.   This Earthcache aims to educate about the various rock types, both common and unusual, used for headstones.  If you have ever visited a cemetery, you will know that some stones weather better than others, while some are almost so weathered you can see the carvings and funerary art. 

On the grounds of the Rose Hill Cemetery, you will find excellent samples of all three types of rock - sedimentary, metamorphic, igneous and one very unusual formation, a stalactite or stalagmite. Each section has an explanation of the type of stone or what you are looking at, the type of rock used at each location and a few questions for you to answer.

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STAGE ONE  -  Igneous Rock  - GRANITE

Granite is an igneous rock.  Igneous rocks solidify from a liquid magma as it cools with grains large enough to be visible without any special type of equipment (besides regular eyeglasses).  Granite is the best-known igneous rock. Many people recognize granite because it is the most common igneous rock found at the Earth's surface and because granite is used to make many objects that we encounter in daily life. These include counter tops, floor tiles, paving stone and stair treads. This mineral composition usually gives granite a red, pink, gray, or white color with dark mineral grains visible throughout the rock. Granite is a very common stone to use for headstones because of it’s durability to weathering.   This is George Cotton’s headstone.  He purchased the first cemetery plot in the City Cemetery, now known as Rose Hill Cemetery. We believe this headstone is a much newer/replacement headstone from the one that was originally placed at this site.    

Questions:

1.    Can you see the grains that make up this stone?  

2.     As your best guess, how big are the largest grains?

3.     What colors can you see in this stone?

STAGE TWO SEDIMENTARY ROCK  - SANDSTONE 

Due to this area's marine (water, not military) history, Arkansas has a lot of sedimentary rock formations. A sedimentary rock is made up of two parts: the particles and the binder that holds them together. Sedimentary rocks are geologically classified as clastic (rocks made up of grains of sand, silt, and clay) or chemical (rocks made up of shell fragments, saline water deposits, and other materials). The clastic sedimentary rocks are made up of shales, siltstones and sandstones. The chemical sedimentary rocks are limestone and dolostone.   Like sand, sandstone may be any color, but the most common colors are: tan, brown, yellow, red, grey, pink, white, and black. Since sandstone beds often form highly visible cliffs and other topographic features, certain colors of sandstone have been strongly identified with certain regions. Due to it’s size, we believe this to be a small child’s crypt.  The top of the crypt is laying on the ground rather than on the top of the crypt.  

Questions:  

1.    Can you feel the sand particles that make up the stone?

2.    What colors do you see?

3.    Do you find layering in the rocks?

4.    As your best guess, in your review of the top of the crypt, what do you believe caused the ripples in the rock?

STAGE THREE -    METAMORPHIC ROCK  - MARBLE

A metamorphic rock is the change of one type of rock into another. The original rock is subjected to very high heat and pressure, which causes the physical and/or chemical changes. Other types of metamorphic rock include slate, gneiss and schist. Marble is a rock resulting from metamorphism of sedimentary carbonate rock. Metamorphism causes changes in the original mineral grains. The resulting marble rock is typically composed of an interlocking different colors of carbonate crystals. Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone.  Marble is commonly used for sculpture and as a building material as well as a very common stone for headstones, as you can see in this cemetery.  

Questions:

1.    What do you think has caused the marking to be hard to read?

2.    Can you read the date this solider was born?

3.    Does one side look better than the other? 

STAGE FOUR - “PRE” LIMESTONE 

Limestone is a sedimentary rock, composed mainly of skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral and shells.  This simply shows the use of natural available resources of the local residents either rich or poor.   

Questions:

1.    Can you name the different types of items that make up this small wall?

2.    From the description of sedimentary rock above, what items do you believe could evolve into limestone? 

 STAGE FIVE - WEATHERING

 Weathering is the break down of stones and minerals. Water, ice, acids, salt, plants, animals, and changes in temperature are all agents of weathering. No rock on the surface of the Earth is hard enough to resist weathering.  One of the best examples of weather and erosion is the Grand Canyon in Arizona. Weathering wears away exposed surfaces over time. It smooths sharp, rough areas on rocks and helps create soil.  One type of weathering is called mechanical weathering, also known as physical weathering. Water seeps into cracks in stone. When the temperature drops below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, water freezes and expands.  The frozen water, (ice), then works as a wedge. It slowly widens the cracks and splits the stone. When ice melts, the run off of the water become erosion and carries away the tiny rock fragments lost in the split.  Mechanical weathering also occurs due to temperature changes.  In this area of Arkansas we can have very cool/cold winters, average low being around 28 degrees.  In the summer, the average high is around 89 degrees, with some instances of being over 100 degrees in most recent years. The changes in temperature cause the stones to expand and contract. As this happens over and over again, the stone weakens. Over time, it will crumble.    

 Questions:

1.    In your review of the placement of this granite headstone in the cemetery do you think it suffers from weathering 100% of the time or less?

2.    Can you see the crystals that make up the stone?  Are they large or small?    

STAGE SIX -  WELL, THIS IS AN ODD STONE! 

Stalactite and stalagmite, are created by slowly dripping water. A stalactite hangs from the ceiling or the side of a cave.  The geological formation of this area in northern Arkansas is very conducive for the development of cave systems. A stalagmite looks like an inverted stalactite, because it rises up from the ground.  The most common mineral in this area’s cave systems is calcite (calcium carbonate), of limestone and dolomite. Other minerals that may be present include other carbonates, opal, chalcedony, limonite, and some sulfides. What needs to be present to form a stalactite/stalagmite are (1) a source rock on the ceiling of the cave; (2) a flow of water supplied from rain; (3) a passage way for the rain water that will create a very slow drip; and (4) adequate air space in the cave to allow either evaporation or the escape of carbon dioxide from the water.

Questions:

1.     In looking straight down on the top of the monument, can you see rings?

2.    Do you think this was placed in the ground the same as it was in the cave or is it now upside down?  

3.    How many different columns can you count? 

 Optional:  If you would like you can post a photo of yourself and/or your group, please feel free to do so. Please do not post spoiler photos.

 Enjoy your stay!! We wish you good karma and safe travels!!If you enjoyed this cache and your new smiley, please feel free to add to your favorites!!