Earthcache – Weathering
Weathering is the deterioration of rocks, soils and minerals (as well as wood and artificial materials) through contact with water, atmospheric gases, sunlight, and biological organisms.
If you have ever been to a cemetery and tried to read a headstone and could not, it is probably due to weathering. Old Cutchogue Burying Ground has many examples of this.
Lettering Alteration
Rahn, T and Meierding, T.C. suggested that the alteration of carved lettering on gravestones follows a sequence of deterioration. The lettering becomes progressively roughened and difficult to read. The edges of the carved surface at first become less distinct as granular disintegration occurs. The whole letter begins to merge into the surface of the gravestone as the agents of erosion remove the surface. Eventually the lettering becomes almost indistinguishable from the surface of the gravestone itself. Once the lettering is indistinguishable the method become inappropriate to use. Although this method cannot provide any absolute measurements of the amount of material lost, it can provide a relative measure of deterioration.
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Visual Weathering Class
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Visual Indicators of Class
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1
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Lettering sharp and distinct. No evidence of change.
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2
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Lettering slightly rounded showing evidence of some removal of grains. Still legible and cleat though.
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3
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Lettering rounded. Edges clearly being removed and some original edges removed completely. Still legible and clear.
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4
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Lettering rounded. All or most original edges removed, but lettering still legible, but increasingly becoming indistinct from the surface of gravestone.
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5
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Lettering disintegrating. Lettering still just about legible, but now almost indistinguishable from the surface of the gravestone.
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6
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What lettering? Lettering virtually disappeared. Need to be able to make out date to be able to date period over which lettering has disappeared.
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Logging Requirements
In order to log this Earthcache, send your answers to me for the following questions.
Use your best judgement.
The posted coordinates take you to the first headstone, Julia Lord. Use the waypoints to bring you to the remaining 5.
Question:
1. Evaluate each stone and rate these in order starting with class 1. What are the visual effects that that helped you classify each stone?
2. Please provide a photo of yourself (face not required) or a personal item at the Cemetery sign to prove they visited the site.