Cremation
What is a cremation? Why do we perform cremations? Well let’s start with some history about cremations. Are dating from at least 40,000 years ago in the archaeological record, with the Mungo Lady, the remains of a partly cremated body found at Lake Mungo, Australia. Alternative death rituals emphasizing one method of disposal of a body-inhumation (burial), or exposure-have gone through periods of preference throughout history. In the Middle East and Europe, both burial and cremating are evident in the archaeological record in the Neolithic era.
Cultural groups had their own preferences and prohibitions. The ancient Egyptians developed an intricate transmigration of soul theology, which prohibited cremations, and this was adopted widely among other Semitic peoples. The Babylonians, according to Herodotus, embalmed their dead. Early Persians practised cremations, but this became prohibited during the Zoroastrian Period. Phoenicians practised both cremations and burial. To cremate is a fire combustion, vaporization and oxidation of dead bodies to basic chemical compounds, such as gases, ashes and mineral fragments retaining the appearance of dry bones in a human cremator. Read more about a cremation
Cremation may serve
Cremation is the disposal of a corpse by fire. It is an ancient and widespread practice, second only to burial. Some ancient cultures believed that fire was a purifying agent, and that cremation would light the way of the deceased to another world, or to prevent the return of the dead. The Greeks are known to have cremated their dead as early as 3000 years ago. Cremation was the predominant mode of corpse disposal by the time of Homer 2700 years ago.
In Rome cremation became such a status symbol that constructing and renting space in columbariums (vaults or similar structures with niches in the walls to receive the ashes of the dead) became a profitable business. But by about 100 years into the spread of Christianity, cremations in the Roman Empire were stopped. Although cremation was not explicitly taboo among Christians, it was not encouraged because of pagan associations and because of the concern that it might interfere with the resurrection of the body and its reunion with the soul. Another more practical reason for the decline of cremations is that they were threatening to bring about serious wood shortages, since so much timber was being felled for pyres.
Cremation was rare in western Europe until the 19th century, except in emergencies. During an outbreak of the Black Death in 1656, for example, the bodies of 60,000 victims were burned in Naples during a single week.
As a funeral or post-funeral rite as an alternative to the interment of an intact dead body in a coffin, casket or shroud. Cremated remains aka “cremains” or simply, “ashes” which do not constitute a health risk, may be buried or interred in memorial sites or cemeteries, or they may be retained by relatives and dispersed in various ways. To cremate is not an alternative to a funeral, but rather an alternative to burial or other forms of disposal. Some families prefer to have the deceased present at the funeral with cremation to follow; others prefer that the cremation occur prior to the funeral or memorial service. In many countries, cremations are usually done in a crematorium. Some countries, such as India and Nepal, prefer different methods, such as open-air cremation.