This type of grave memorial is also common in old cemeteries, and they can be found set into a base, on a ground ledger or just by themselves. Most markers tend to be thicker than headstones/tablets and lower to the ground. The one exception is the plaque, which is quite thin. Where tablets/headstones are made of almost any material, markers tend to be made from stone, cement or bronze. There are great variations in the sizes of markers, from tiny ones on children’s graves to huge monumental ones on prominent family grave sites.

Because markers are lower to the ground, much bulkier and constructed of more durable material, little damage has occurred to them over the years.

The following are some of the most common types of markers:

Screen marker:
Tends to be rectangular in shape. Can be added into other monument types to form an eclectic memorial. Usually made of grey granite, sandstone or marble.

Simple block:
Rectangular block that tends to be quite thick. Usually made of marble or granite.

Flat marker:
Tends to be thinner than other markers and lies flat along the ground. May be set into a base or just by itself. Usually these markers have only enough room for a very simple inscription such as name, years of birth and death and a three- or four-word epitaph.

Plaque:
Tends to be very thin and made of either bronze or brass. This is the most popular grave memorial for the past 20 years in British Columbia. Can also be found on a slanting, raised foundation. Bronze is cast and shows very little deterioration over time. Lettering is usually in relief. Brass develops a patina with its reaction to the environment and leaves a green-coloured residue when in contact with water. Lettering is usually incised

Slant-faced marker:
Comes in a variety of sizes and styles. Main characteristic is the slant of the inscription face, usually at a 40 to 45 degree angle, allowing the inscription to face a certain direction (usually east). This slant in the stone’s face allows for a greater surface area for inscriptions. Most often these markers are made of granite, marble or cement.

Scroll-faced marker:
Tends to lie flat and is fashioned in the shape of a scroll, seen easily from the sides of the marker. The inscription is always placed on the scroll. The symbolic reference is to "divine law." Most scroll-faced markers are made of granite but there are some examples in marble.

Open-book marker:
Tends to lie flat and take on the dimensions of an open book (religious symbolism referring to the Bible or the word of God). This type of marker was very popular in the 1920s and 1930s. Almost all open-book markers are made of granite or marble. Very common on husband and wife burials with the husband’s inscription on the left, as in the marriage ceremony.

Vertical-face marker with slant-top:
A flat vertical face with inscription on one side and the top of the marker has a sloping cut usually at a 45-degree angle. Generally no inscription is placed on the top. Although these stones are not common in larger city cemeteries, they do exist in moderate numbers in small older cemeteries in rural areas. This type of marker is usually made of white marble or granite.

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