You Won't Find These Bizarre Gravestones Anywhere But Tennessee

Tennessee is a state that has found its footing on the back of history. Built up by the past and yearning for the future, our great state is one that honors what once was but continuously looks forward, ever reaching for something new and expansive. Still, there are a few spots in these here woods that stay solidly tied to the past. If you haven’t heard of these strange Tennessee spots, these weird Tennessee gravestones, then you might want to take a look. It’s simply shocking.

FindAGrave

You'll find these strange gravestones scattered across the entirety of the Cumberland Plateau, known as "tent graves" to the locals. You may also see them referred to as "comb graves."

Tennessee Gravewalkers

As you can see here, you can tell the graves apart from a normal headstone with the tent-like figuring of the stone slabs. A majority of graves that follow this odd set-up were utilized in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

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Tennessee Gravewalkers

The story behind the idea is that the tent gravestones are popular due to problems with the settling of old graves. You see, wooden coffins fall apart. It's true. And once they do, the ground starts to sink...

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Tennessee Gravewalkers

Keeping a tent-like gravestone above the burial plot protected the sunken ground and kept animals away from the area.

Tennessee Gravewalkers

You can most notably find these comb graves in the Cash Family Cemetery (yep, it's exactly what it sounds like - the man in black is here), which means you can have a mini history lesson as you wander through the quiet Coffee County space.

It’s a pretty interesting story, wouldn’t you say? Continue exploring Tennessee with these spots that are loved by locals and tourists alike.