Tennessee's bizarre tent gravestones

You can find a few in the Cash Family Cemetery in Coffee County, Tennessee. Different graves have the slabs either supported by a triangular piece at either end, or by an iron bar. They can also be made of different kinds of stone: sandstone and limestone are the most common, but marble, metal and concrete can be found. Some have the inscriptions right on the "tent", while most have a separate headstone. As you explore the slightly overgrown and now out-of-use graveyard, you can see different kinds of graves, including a few tent gravestones.

The theory behind why tent gravestones became popular in the region has to do with the fact that old graves settle-- as old wooden coffins deteriorated, the earth on top of the grave sunk. A stone tent over the sunken grave would have kept animals (who grazed in cemeteries to keep them from getting overgrown) from falling into a sunken grave, and prevented plants from growing in the soil. Plus, they're pretty cool to look at.

Cub Cemetery is another good bet for finding tent graves. In fact, as you explore the nearly-forgotten graveyard, you'll see all kinds of different markers. It's a totally unique way to learn about the culture of this small swath of Tennessee.