The role of technology in the evolution of funerals over the centuries

Have you already chosen how you want to rest in the afterlife? Today, various methods and technologies are applied in funeral services.. The most common techniques include traditional burial, in which the individual is buried directly in the ground, or cremation, a method in which the body is burned completely.

However, there are also more culturally and religiously peculiar forms that date back to the very ancient times of humanity. Learn about the culture and burial methods.

Culture and Religion

The way we cope with the death of loved ones is closely linked to the culture and religion in which each family group was raised and believes. Where religion is absent, beliefs and spirituality can still lead the steps to the last remnant of the departed.

In some countries, such as Indonesia, the deceased are “brought back” to the family in an annual ceremony known as MaiNene. At this ceremony in Toraja, The bodies are exhumed, cleaned, changed, and remain with their families throughout the day until they return to rest..

In Mexico, Día de Los Muertos is a traditional celebration where people celebrate the memory of their loved ones. The celebration was portrayed in the DisneyPixar animation Viva – A Vida é uma Festa.

Death has different ways of being interpreted and viewed over time. Accordingly, beliefs about the afterlife also affect the choice of our final resting place. Learn about some embedding techniques.

Mummification

When mummification is mentioned, Egyptian mummies may come to mind. The Egyptians believed that the soul would return to the body in the afterlife as long as it could recognize it. That’s why they mastered the art of preserving bodies.

The process of preparing the funerals took approximately 70 days to complete. The Egyptians mummified not only people but also the pets of the deceased.

The technique involved removing all organs except the heart. The body went through a process of dehydration and was then washed with natron and bandaged. It was not uncommon for entire family and servants to be sacrificed in order to remain with the patriarch in the afterlife.

Currently, basting only takes place under special conditions, for example in the case of transportation to other countries, and is carried out only by injecting chemicals into the person.

Cremation

Unlike the most commonly used conclusion in common burial, Cremation has long been considered a more sustainable practice. The body goes through the burning process in furnaces whose temperature reaches 1,300 to 1,500 degrees Celsius.

The corpse is kept in these ovens for 2 to 5 hours until it turns to ashes. Although the risk of soil contamination is low, this method results in an increased carbon footprint and is no longer considered sustainable as previously believed.

In countries such as India, cremation is done on the banks of the Ganges River. After the process, the remains are thrown into the river.

Human Composting

Human composting is a specialty born in the United States. Only a few states allow the practice. In this modality, The corpse is placed in a container prepared with soil and types of fungi that can accelerate the decomposition of the body..

After the decomposition period, family members receive the material, which is converted into fertilizer and can be used to plant trees or use it for other agricultural purposes.

dust to dust

There has been a need to deal with death and its consequences since ancient times. The most common result is direct burial into the ground. There are scientists who say that early hominids hid their dead in caves to keep out the smell, animals, and unwanted sights.

But not only were they thrown away, the bodies were always arranged in ritualistic ways that symbolized transition.

Whatever the case, we seek to immortalize our loved ones by respecting them in the way we choose to spend their eternal rest.

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