Cemetery Preservation
RGA provides a broad range of cemetery preservation services to individuals, families, churches, and municipalities for cemeteries of all sizes. Our qualified staff takes a “hands-on” approach in helping clients determine their cemetery needs. We understand the difficulties associated with cemeteries that have been abandoned, vandalized, and undocumented, as well as the negative effects of inappropriate conservation techniques and materials. Our highly specialized staff has advanced training and certification in gravestone conservation including two who have earned Professional Associate status with the American Institute for Conservation, and two who are certified to use JAHN Masonry Restoration Mortar Systems. Our geophysical archaeologists are trained to use non-invasive and cost-effective remote sensing techniques to identify unmarked graves. Our services include:
- Cemetery Conditions Assessments
- Conservation and repair of damaged and broken gravemarkers and cemetery fencing
- Hands-on outdoor workshops that cover the basics of cleaning and resetting gravestones for lay audiences and municipal maintenance crews
- Historic preservation and maintenance plans tailored to your cemetery
- Historic cemetery gravemarker surveys
- Geophysical survey techniques, such as ground penetrating radar (GPR), to identify unmarked graves
- Outdoor interpretive signage, brochures, and web based cemetery guides for education and heritage tourism
- Archaeological monitoring and grave relocation
RGA is a member of the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) and subscribes to their standards of practice and code of ethics.
