Visitation stones

The act of placing visitation stones is significant in Jewish bereavement practices.

Small stones are placed by people who visit Jewish graves in an act of remembrance or respect for the deceased.

[1] Marking a grave with stones was customary in Biblical times before the adoption of gravestones.

This tradition may be related to the practice of placing notes in the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

[3] The tradition has also been noted outside of Jewish mourning practices; Robert MacFarlane notes the presence of stones placed by mourners in the alcoves of the recesses of resting stones in ancient Ireland.