What is a tent grave?
Unique tent-shaped stone structures, known as tent graves or comb graves, adorn Mount Gilead Cemetery and other burial grounds in White and Overton Counties, Tennessee. Most of these folk-style grave coverings are over 150 years old. While primarily found in Tennessee, examples have been discovered in neighboring states like Alabama and Kentucky, and even as far west as Arkansas and Texas.
Contrary to the belief that these structures were designed to prevent animal intrusion, their tent-like shape was actually a popular aesthetic choice of the time. These distinctive grave coverings stand as a testament to regional funerary customs and folk art traditions of the 19th century.
While unmarked graves exist within the cemetery, the majority feature weathered headstones at both ends. The cemetery takes its name, Mount Gilead - meaning "hill of witness," from the small Methodist church established across from it in 1826. These distinctive tent graves were a popular local funerary style until the late 1880s, after which they were gradually replaced by more conventional headstones.
Photo by satxwdavis (Atlas Obscura user).
