Stone rubbing

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

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.

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