Earth retaining system
 A gravity retaining system for a stabilized steep slope comprises a plurality of free standing facing elements disposed end-to-end with respect to each other to form a continuous line of facing elements. Each facing element includes a weight bearing base surface, a front facing surface, a rear soil contacting surface, a top surface and two outwardly directed end surfaces. The weight-bearing base surface includes a stable erection platform sufficient to provide upright free standing stability of each element when backfilling soil against an inwardly tapered portion of the rear surface. An overturning moment about the lower front outer edge of the front facing surface exists when the element is in a free standing upright position and is backfilled from the lower rear outer edge to a preselected height on the rear surface. The weight of each facing element is sufficient to produce a resistance to overturn the facing element about the lower front outer edge that is greater than the overturning moment. A rearwardly extending reinforcing perforate sheet structure is fastened at a horizontal location laterally displaced outwardly from the rear surface along a continuous, elongated coupling line extending in a direction along the rear surface of each facing element and substantially parallel to the lower outer edge of the rear surface of each facing element. 
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E02D E02D
inventional inventional
Thomas M.
Miner