What Causes A Sunken Grave?

There's a sense of finality when a loved one is laid to rest in a cemetery. It's literally their final resting place, where you can visit and remember them — a place of quiet reflection. Aside from some seasonal changes to the trees and plants at the cemetery, you don't expect the appearance of your loved one's grave to change in any way. 

A Sunken Grave

It can be distressing, even a bit unsettling, when the appearance of your loved one's grave begins to change. It's not a certainty that this will happen, but as the years go by, the ground above their casket can become sunken, which can also cause their headstone to tilt. Why is this happening?

A Slow Process

It's important to note that if your loved one's grave becomes sunken, it won't happen until years (if not decades) after they've been laid to rest. It can be uncomfortable to think about the reasons behind this process, but it's essentially because the casket has decomposed and collapsed underground. This is a perfectly natural process.

Contributing Factors

There's no set time frame for this to happen. The material of the casket plays a significant role. For example, a solid hardwood casket will last much longer than a basic casket, or even an eco casket, which is specifically designed for rapid decomposition. Weather conditions are also a contributing factor, and excessive rain which has elevated the moisture content in the soil can lead to a sunken grave.

Burial Vaults

The possibility of a sunken grave is something that funeral directors and cemetery management are aware of, and this is why you and your family may have been offered the option of a burial vault when your loved one passed away. It's a container (usually made of concrete) that encases the casket and prevents the earth above it from collapsing. While this would have prevented a sunken grave, it can't easily be added to a grave years after burial. So how is the problem solved?

Restoring a Sunken Grave

A sunken grave can be repaired, and this is generally just a case of adding more soil to the site and compacting it, restoring a balance between the compression of the casket and the earth above it. A tilted headstone can be reset, which involves the removal of the headstone so a new anchor can be installed. The headstone is then replaced. 

There will be a fee involved for this restoration, but it can be a necessary one. Have a word with cemetery management if you notice that the appearance of your loved one's grave has begun to change.