What is a grave liner?

A grave liner is designed primarily to support the casket and protect it from the weight of the earth above it. This container acts as a barrier between the casket and the surrounding soil, helping to maintain the integrity of the grave site over time. By providing this support, a grave liner can prevent the casket from collapsing or degrading due to the pressure of the earth, which in turn helps to maintain the aesthetic qualities of the cemetery landscape.

The other options do not accurately describe a grave liner. Decorative above-ground structures typically refer to mausoleums or columbaria, rather than the below-ground support function of a grave liner. A permanent monument is generally a headstone or marker that sits above the ground, also distinct from a grave liner. Lastly, while caskets can be referred to in terms of design and materials in funerals, they serve a different purpose than that of a grave liner, which focuses on the burial rather than containing the body directly for viewing and service. Thus, option A best reflects the function and purpose of a grave liner.