The anchor most commonly represents Christ's ability to anchor or support one's struggles throughout life. It also represents a the life of a sailor or seaman.

Birds on tombstones often indicate the deceased's flight into the afterlife. In this image, doves are said to be a symbol of peace.

The cross most commonly represents Christ's sacrifice during crucifiction, making this symbol the most well-know representation of the Christian religion on tombstones.

Handshakes are represenative of unity or eternal love amongst two people. They also respresent a plaeasant goodbye or farewell from the earth.

Lambs are used as symbols of inccocence, particularly on child/infant graves. It is also a symbol of Christ in the Christian religion.

Oil lamps represent an eternal flame that wards off evil from darkness. Also, it is said to represent a flame of life extinguished after dying.

Books are usually a representation of the Book of Life, and are commonly found on the graves of ministers and devoted religious people.

This is an emblem that represents members of the Freemasons (Masons). It can also be found without the "G" etched in the middle.

The urn is a very old symbol of death representing the body's returin back to the ashes and dust of the earth. The cloth around the urn indicates death.