Humans have been burying their dead since shortly after the origin of the species. Burial is often seen as indicating respect for the dead. It has been used to prevent the odor of decay, to give family members closure and prevent them from witnessing the decomposition of their loved ones. Some cultures keep the dead close to provide guidance to the living, while others locate burial grounds at a distance from inhabited areas.
About Burial in brief
Humans have been burying their dead since shortly after the origin of the species. Burial is often seen as indicating respect for the dead. It has been used to prevent the odor of decay, to give family members closure and prevent them from witnessing the decomposition of their loved ones. In many cultures it has been seen as a necessary step for the deceased to enter the afterlife or to give back to the cycle of life. Some cultures keep the dead close to provide guidance to the living, while others locate burial grounds at a distance from inhabited areas. Alternatives to burial may include cremation, burial at sea, promession, cryopreservation, and others. In ancient Egypt, customs developed during the Predynastic period. Round graves with one pot were used in the Badarian Period, continuing the tradition of Omari and Maadi cultures. Prehistoric cemeteries are referred to by the more neutral term grave field. They are one of the chief sources of information on prehistoric cultures, and numerous archaeological cultures are defined by their burial customs, such as theUrnfield culture of the European Bronze Age. In modern times, the custom of people burying dead below six feet is used in most cultures. This is reflected in the common misconception that graves must be dug to a depth of six feet. This means that most people bury their dead below the age of 6 feet. In most cultures, this means that people bury the dead below 6 feet, although in other cultures it is used to indicate the burial place, with a stone marker, or even a hole in the ground.
Some people are buried in anonymous or secret graves for various reasons. The location of the burial may be determined by taking into account concerns surrounding health and sanitation, religious concerns, and cultural practices. Evidence suggests that the Neanderthals were the first human species to practice burial behavior and intentionally buried their dead, doing so in shallow graves along with stone tools and animal bones. Exemplary sites include Shanidar in Iraq, Kebara Cave in Israel and Krapina in Croatia. Some scholars, however, argue that these bodies may have been disposed of for secular reasons. Though there is ongoing debate regarding the reliability of the dating method, some scholars believe the earliest human burial dates back 100,000 years. In the Middle Palaeolithic, human corpses were usually buried in soil. The roots of burial as a practice reach back into the neolithic and coincide with the appearance of Homothalensis and Homo sapiens, in Europe and Africa respectively. The practice has been observed in chimpanzees, elephants, and possibly dogs. Some human cultures may bury the remains of beloved animals. The way the body is positioned may have great significance, and may be dressed in fancy or ceremonial garb. Depending on the culture, the way the bodies are buried may have a great significance. It is not necessarily a public health requirement. Contrary to conventional wisdom, the WHO advises that only corpses carrying an infectious disease strictly require burial.
You want to know more about Burial?
This page is based on the article Burial published in Wikipedia (as of Jan. 30, 2021) and was automatically summarized using artificial intelligence.
