Uncovering the Mountain Spirit (Lao Sua)

While exploring Greater Bukit Brown or what we colloquially call as "Lao Sua", i came across an earth deity with only the word 山 (Mountain) exposed. The other character was covered by years and years of soil. I started slowly digging with a garden shovel but was not making much progress. Fortunately the expert was with me and i even managed to document a bit of how he did the uncovering. 

The character exposed was 山靈 literally translated as the Mountain Spirit and this is not often used as "tomb guardians" as Earth deity and mountain spirit though related are seen to have different "responsibility" as the earth deity for the tomb is in charge of the tomb only but the mountain spirit could cover a larger domain. 

山 before the uncovering

山靈 literally translated as the Mountain Spirit

For the unfamiliar, beside each grave, there usually be an stone altar to worship the Earth Deity Guardian for the grave, the Chinese earth god as a form of acknowledgement or gratitude for taking care of the deceased. Depending on how rich the descendants is, it can be big or small. 
Other character representations of the Earth Deity include; 福神, 后土 (the most common), 本山后土 , 來龍后土, 福神, 土地, 土地之神. 

The earth deity belonged to the tomb of the grandmother of Mrs. Lim Nee Soon nee Wee Peck Hay (according to Raymond Goh).