Gravestone rubbing

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Gravestone rubbing is the practice of creating a rubbing by depositing a rendering material such as charcoal, wax or graphite on paper placed over the engraved surface of a gravestone in order to obtain an image of the stone's lettering and designs. It is often used as a method of retrieving information about genealogy.

For a genealogist a gravestone rubbing may become a permanent record of death where the gravestone is rapidly deteriorating. For an artist gravestone rubbings can become an entire body of creative work that is framed and displayed. See brass rubbing also.

The practice of gravestone rubbing can cause permanent damage to stones due to abrasion.