-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 VfdGpKLgeeZJj+9e4e9372uLtsXim2s/syj5feEz+edFBiXbL3TJomQ7IeSaTJVh
 btieSHIGFc8gFbYZwbAqew==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000084581-04-000070.txt : 20041213
<SEC-HEADER>0000084581-04-000070.hdr.sgml : 20041213
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041213102113
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000084581-04-000070
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041210
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041213
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041213

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SCHAIR DOUGLAS M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001055940

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-29464
		FILM NUMBER:		041197874

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2077817706

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 402
		CITY:			PORTLAND
		STATE:			ME
		ZIP:			04112

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ROCK OF AGES CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000084581
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CUT STONE & STONE PRODUCTS [3281]
		IRS NUMBER:				030153200
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		369 NORTH STATE STREET
		CITY:			CONCORD
		STATE:			NH
		ZIP:			03301
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6032258397

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		369 NO STATE STREET
		CITY:			CONCORD
		STATE:			NH
		ZIP:			03301
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000084581</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ROCK OF AGES CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ROAC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001055940</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SCHAIR DOUGLAS M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PO BOX 402</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PORTLAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>ME</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>04112</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>7.38</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>548303</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>18800</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>5.98</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-02-08</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-02-08</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8.21</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-07-29</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2008-07-29</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>21000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Grant to reporting person of option to buy shares of common stock under the Rock of Ages 1994 Stock Plan in a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3. The option vests in 20% increments on 02/08/2003, 02/08/2004, 02/08/2005, 02/08/2006 and 02/08/2007, respectively.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Grant to reporting person of option to buy shares under the Rock of Ages 1994 Stock Plan in a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3. The option vests in 1/3 increments on 07/29/2005, 07/29/2006 and 07/29/2007, respectively.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Douglas M. Schair</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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