Editing Burial (section)

==Burial methods==
In many [[culture]]s, human [[Dead body|corpses]] were usually buried in soil. The roots of burial as a practice reach back into the Middle Palaeolithic and coincide with the appearance of ''[[Neanderthal|Homo neanderthalensis]]'' and ''[[Homo sapiens]]'', in Europe and Africa respectively. As a result, burial grounds are found throughout the world. Through time, [[tumulus|mounds of earth]], [[temple]]s, and caverns were used to store the dead bodies of [[ancestor]]s. In modern times, the [[Norm (sociology)|custom]] of burying dead people below ground, with a [[headstone|stone marker]] to indicate the burial place, is used in most [[cultures]]; although other means such as cremation are becoming more popular in the West (cremation is the norm in India and mandatory in big metropolitan areas of Japan<ref>{{Cite web|last=Nakata|first=Hiroko|date=2009-07-28|title=Japan's funerals deep-rooted mix of ritual, form|url=https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2009/07/28/reference/japans-funerals-deep-rooted-mix-of-ritual-form/|access-date=2020-08-25|website=The Japan Times|language=en-US}}</ref>).

Some burial practices are heavily [[ritual]]ized; others are simply practical.

===Burial depth===
It is a common misconception that graves must be dug to a depth of six feet (1.8 metres). This is reflected in the common euphemism for death of ''six feet under''.<ref name=Crissman>James K. Crissman, ''Death and Dying in Central Appalachia: Changing Attitudes and Practices'', University of Illinois Press, 1994, pp. 1, 62. {{ISBN|978-0252063558}}.</ref>  In fact, graves are rarely dug to this depth except when it is intended to later bury a further coffin or coffins on top of the first one.  In such cases, more than six feet may be dug, to provide the required depth of soil above the top coffin.<ref name=Lacoste>Mary LaCoste, ''Death Embraced: New Orleans Tombs and Burial Customs'', Lulu, 2015, pp. 56, {{ISBN|978-1483432106}}.</ref>

In the United States, there is no nationwide regulation of burial depth. Each local authority is free to determine its own rules. Requirements for depth can vary according to soil type and by method of burial. [[California]], for instance, requires only 19 inches of soil above the top of the coffin, but more commonly 30 to 36 inches are required in other places.<ref name=Lacoste/> In some areas, such as central [[Appalachia]], graves were indeed once dug to a depth of six feet to prevent the body being disturbed by burrowing animals. However, this was unnecessary once metal caskets and concrete vaults started to be used.<ref name=Crissman/>

In the United Kingdom, soil is required to be to a depth of three feet above the highest point of the coffin, unless the burial authority consider the soil to be suitable for a depth of only two feet.<ref>ICCM, [https://www.iccm-uk.com/iccm/library/ShallowGraves.pdf "Policy Relating to Shallow Depth Graves"], Institute of Cemetery & Crematorium Management, May 2004, accessed and [https://web.archive.org/web/20190706113834/https://www.iccm-uk.com/iccm/library/ShallowGraves.pdf archived] 6 July 2019.</ref>

The earliest known reference to a requirement for a six-foot burial occurred in 1665 during the [[Great Plague of London]]. [[John Lawrence (lord mayor)|John Lawrence]], the [[Lord Mayor of London]], ordered that the bodies of plague victims "...shall be at least six foot deep."<ref>A. Lloyd Moote, Dorothy C. Moote, ''The Great Plague: The Story of London's Most Deadly Year'', Johns Hopkins University Press, 2006, p. 131, {{ISBN|978-0801892301}}.</ref> The city officials apparently believed this would inhibit the spread of the disease, not realising that the true [[Vector (epidemiology)|vector]] was fleas living on rats in the streets.  In the event, there were so many victims that very few were buried in individual graves.  Most were placed in massive [[plague pit]]s so it is unlikely that this event alone gave rise to the "six feet" tradition.<ref name=Lacoste/>

===Natural burial===
[[Natural burial]]—also called "green burial"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.greenburialcouncil.org |title=greenburialcouncil.org |publisher=greenburialcouncil.org |date=26 August 2010 |access-date=14 October 2012}}</ref>—is the process by which a body is returned to the earth to decompose naturally in soil, and in some cases even protect native and endangered wildlife.<ref name=":9">{{Cite journal|last1=Holden|first1=Matthew H.|last2=McDonald-Madden|first2=Eve|title=Conservation from the Grave: Human Burials to Fund the Conservation of Threatened Species|journal=Conservation Letters|volume=11|language=en|doi=10.1111/conl.12421|issn=1755-263X|year=2018|issue=1 |pages=e12421|bibcode=2018ConL...11E2421H |doi-access=free}}</ref> Natural burial became popularized in the UK in the early 1990s by Ken West, a professional cremator operator for the [[city of Carlisle]], responding to the U.K's call for changes in government that aligned with the United Nations' Environmental Program Local [[Agenda 21]]. In addition, there are multiple green burial sites in the U.S. Green burials are developing in Canada (Victoria, BC, and Cobourg, Ontario), as well as in Australia and Ireland.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cindea.ca/resources-elsewhere.html#GB |title=CINDEA (Canadian Integrative Network for Death Education and Resources) maintains resources on green burial and other topics relevant to the pan-death movement |publisher=Cindea.ca |access-date=7 August 2012}}</ref>

The increase in popularity of alternative burials can be seen as a direct choice of the individual's want to distance themselves from religious practices and spiritual locations as well as an opportunity to exercise their act of choice.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last1=Yarwood|first1=Richard|last2=Sidaway|last3=Kelly|last4=Stillwell|year=2014|title=Sustainable deathstyles? The geography of green burials in Britain|journal= The Geographical Journal|volume=181|issue=2|pages=172–184|doi=10.1111/geoj.12087|hdl=10026.1/3241|url=https://pearl.plymouth.ac.uk/bitstream/10026.1/3241/7/sustainable%20deathstyles.pdf|hdl-access=free}}</ref> The desire to live through nature as well as concern for the environment have been the backbone of the green burial movement. The use of [[coffin]]s made from alternative materials such as wicker and [[Biodegradation|biodegradable]] materials as well as trees and other flora are being used in place of [[headstone]]s. Both practices provide sustainable alternatives to traditional burial practices.<ref name=":0" />

Natural burials have been attracting people for reasons outside of environmental and sustainability factors as well. With the expansion of urban centres, ecological corridors gradually disappear. Cemeteries for burial plots preclude alternative uses of the land for a long time. By combining these two aspects (need for connectivity and land take imposed by cemeteries), two positive results can be achieved: protecting memories of the past and connecting ecosystems with multiple-use corridors.<ref>{{cite journal |title= Connecting existing cemeteries saving good soils (for livings) |author=Scalenghe, R., Pantani, O.L. |year= 2020 |doi=10.3390/su12010093 |journal= Sustainability|volume=12 |page=93 |doi-access= free |hdl=10447/400581 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> Green burials appeal to people for economic reasons. Traditional burial practices can be a financial burden causing some to turn to green burials as a cheaper alternative. Some people view green burials as more meaningful, especially for those who have a connection to a piece of land, such as current residence or other places that hold meaning for them.<ref name=":0" />

====Types====
=====Conservation burial=====
Conservation burial is a type of burial where burial fees fund the acquisition and management of new land to benefit native habitat, ecosystems and species.<ref name=":9" /> This usually involves a legal document such as a [[conservation easement]]. Such burials go beyond other forms of natural burial, which aim to prevent environmental damage caused by conventional burial techniques, by actually increasing benefits for the environment.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Harker|first=A|date=2012|title=Landscapes of the Dead: An Argument for Conservation Burial|journal=Berkeley Planning Journal|volume=25|pages=150–159|doi=10.5070/BP325111923|s2cid=131349447|url=https://escholarship.org/content/qt7br0d6c3/qt7br0d6c3.pdf?t=poodm5}}</ref> The idea is for the burial process to be a net positive for the earth rather than just neutral. Scientists have argued that such burials could potentially generate enough funds to save every endangered species on the planet.<ref name=":9" /> The Green Burial Council certifies natural and conservation burial grounds in the U.S. and Canada.<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Standards |url=https://www.greenburialcouncil.org/our_standards.html |publisher=Green Burial Council}}</ref>

=====Memorial reef=====
The memorial reef is a natural, alternative approach to burial. The cremated remains of a person are mixed in with concrete and then placed into a mold to make the memorial reef or eternal reef.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.eternalreefs.com/the-eternal-reefs-story/what-is-an-eternal-reef/|title=What is an Eternal Reef?|last=Frankel|first=George|website=Eternal Reefs|access-date=3 April 2017}}</ref> After the concrete sets, family members are allowed to customize the reef with writing, hand prints and chalk drawings. After this, the eco-friendly reefs are placed into the ocean among other [[coral reef]]s where they help to repair damage to the reefs while also providing new habitats for fish and other sea communities.<ref name=":1" /> It has become a new way to memorialize the passing person while also protecting the marine environment. The high cost of the memorial reefs has caused this alternative form of burial to remain minimal and uncommon. This kind of natural burial is practiced in permitted oceans in the U.S., specifically in locations around Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, New Jersey, Texas and Virginia.{{Citation needed|date=March 2020}}

=====Alkaline hydrolysis=====
[[Water cremation|Alkaline hydrolysis]], also referred to as resomation, is another approach to natural burial. It uses high temperature water mixed with [[potassium hydroxide]] to dissolve human remains.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/resomation-green-alternative-cremation-burial-funeral-offered-florida/story?id=14457825|title=Resomation: Like Cremation, but Green|date=6 September 2011|website=ABC News|access-date=28 April 2017}}</ref> During this process, the body is put into an enclosed, stainless steel chamber. The chamber fills with the chemical and water solution and is then lightly circulated. After a couple of hours, the body is worn down and bone is the only thing that remains. The bones are then pressed down into a powder and returned to the associated family. The outcome is comparable to cremation, but results in an environmentally friendly process that does not release chemical emissions and greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, as was confirmed after a review by the Health Council of the Netherlands.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ministerie van Volksgezondheid |first=Welzijn en Sport |date=2020-05-25 |title=Admissibility of new techniques of disposing of the dead - Advisory report - The Health Council of the Netherlands |url=https://www.healthcouncil.nl/documents/advisory-reports/2020/05/25/admissibility-of-new-techniques-of-disposing-of-the-dead |access-date=2022-11-01 |website=www.healthcouncil.nl |language=en-GB}}</ref> After this process, the water used goes to a regular water treatment facility where it is filtered and cleaned and returned to the water cycle. At this time, resomation is permitted for commercial use in areas throughout the U.S. However, several other countries, including the UK are considering using this technology within their medical schools and universities.<ref name=":2" />

=====Mushroom burial=====
Mushroom burial has been developed by [[Jae Rhim Lee]] and her colleagues to address the impact traditional burial approaches have on the environment. It is an eco-friendly process which consists of dressing the cadaver in a bodysuit with mushroom spores woven into it, nicknamed the Infinity Burial Suit.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|url=https://www.sciencealert.com/this-mushroom-suit-digests-your-body-after-you-die|title=This Mushroom Suit Digests Your Body After You Die|last=MacDonald|first=Fiona|work=ScienceAlert|access-date=28 April 2017|language=en-gb}}</ref> Rhim developed her own mushrooms by feeding them her hair, skin, and nails to create a mushroom variety that will best decompose human remains. As the mushrooms grow, they consume the remains within the suit as well as the toxins that are being released by the body. Rhim and her colleagues created this suit as a symbol of a new way for people to think about the relationship between their body after death and the environment.<ref name=":3" />

===== Tree pod burials =====
Another method of natural burial is being developed to plant the human body in [[fetal position]] inside an egg shaped pod.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|url=http://globalnews.ca/news/2558634/biodegradable-burial-pods-will-turn-you-into-a-tree-when-you-die/|title=Biodegradable burial pods will turn you into a tree when you die|work=Global News|access-date=28 April 2017|language=en}}</ref> The pod containing the body will form a [[Biodegradation|biodegradable]] capsule that will not harm the surrounding earth. The biodegradable capsule doubles as a seed which can be customized to grow into either a [[birch]], [[maple]], or [[eucalyptus]] tree. The goal of this method is to create parks full of trees that loved ones can walk through and mourn, as opposed to a graveyard full of tombstones. This method aims to return the body to the earth in the most environmentally friendly way possible.<ref name=":4" />

The tree pod method originated in the UK but is now becoming a more popular method of burial.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=http://www.beatree.com/|title=Be a Tree; the Natural Burial Guide for Turning Yourself into a Forest|access-date=28 April 2017}}</ref> The definition of natural burial grounds suggests that people are being buried without any kind of formaldehyde-based embalming fluid or synthetic ingredients, and that the bodies that are being returned to the earth will also be returning nutrients to the environment, in a way that is less expensive than other available burial methods. Not only are tree pods a more cost effective and environmentally friendly way to memorialize loved ones, this method also offers emotional support. The memories of loved ones will be immortalized through the concept of a deceased person having a medium (trees) that will continue to live and grow.<ref name=":5" />

===Prevention of decay===
[[Image:Predynastic human mummy, EA 32751.jpg|thumb|A naturally [[mummified]] body in the [[British Museum]]]]
[[Embalming]] is the practice of preserving a body against decay and is used in many cultures. [[Mummification]] is a more extensive method of embalming, further delaying the decay process.

Bodies are often buried wrapped in a [[shroud]] or placed in a [[coffin]] (or in some cases, a ''casket''). A larger container may be used, such as a [[Ship burial|ship]]. In the U.S., coffins are usually covered by a [[grave liner]] or a [[burial vault (enclosure)|burial vault]], which prevents the coffin from collapsing under the weight of the earth or floating away during a flood.

These containers slow the decomposition process by (partially) physically blocking decomposing [[bacteria]] and other organisms from accessing the corpse. An additional benefit of using containers to hold the body is that if the soil covering the corpse is washed away by a [[flood]] or some other natural process then the corpse will still not be exposed to open air.

===Inclusion of clothing and personal effects===
The body may be dressed in fancy and/or ceremonial clothes. Personal objects of the deceased, such as a favorite piece of jewelry or photograph, may be included with the body. This practice, also known as the inclusion of [[grave goods]], serves several purposes:
* In [[funeral]] services, the body is often put on display. Many cultures feel that the deceased should be presented looking his or her finest. Others dress the deceased in [[burial shroud]]s, which range from very simple to elaborate depending on the culture.
* The inclusion of ceremonial garb and sacred objects is sometimes viewed as necessary for reaching the [[afterlife]].
* The inclusion of personal effects may be motivated by the beliefs that in the afterlife people will wish to have with them what was important to them on earth. Alternatively, in some cultures, it is felt that, when a person dies, their possessions (and sometimes people connected to them such as [[Widow burning|wives]]) should go with them out of loyalty or ownership.
* Although not generally a motivation for the inclusion of grave goods with a corpse, it is worth considering that future [[archaeologists]] may find the remains (compare [[time capsule]]). [[Artifact (archaeology)|Artifacts]] such as clothing and objects provide insight into how the individual lived. This provides a form of [[immortality]] for the deceased.  In general, however, clothing buried with a body decays more rapidly than the same buried alone.<ref>{{Cite magazine|title = Corpse Couture|last = O'Connor|first = Kim|date = October 2013|magazine = Wired|type = paper|page = 50}}</ref>