Throughout my mortuary archeology course I have been
introduced to a wide variety of how different cultures, and different people
within one culture, choose to treat the deceased. In some cases, I have been
admittedly weirded-out (but in a good way!), awed, and saddened. This week, I’m
going to compile 5 different mortuary rituals, or particular mortuary events that have interested me. I’ve either learned
about these mortuary practices in class, or come upon them on my own internet
research.
1)
Cremation Diamonds
I was in complete awe when I heard about
these. Right away I texted my mom and my boyfriend and told them that if
anything happened to me I wanted to be turned into a diamond (Sidenote: is
it just me or am I perhaps far too comfortable with talking about death after
taking this course). I don’t think they were super impressed, but at least
they know! In short, there are several companies that will take carbon
extracted from the cremated ashes and GROW A DIAMOND. Admittedly, it’s quite unnatural
and perhaps somewhat forced, but you can’t deny that it would be pretty cool to
be a diamond.
2)
Rosalia Lombardo
Ok, this one broke my heart. Rosalia was an
Italian girl that died when she was 2. Her father, wracked with grief, took her
body to embalmers to preserve her. Her preservation is remarkable – in the
photos that I have seen of Rosalie, she looks as though she is sleeping.
Apparently, her father came to visit preserved Rosalie every day . If that
doesn’t break your heart you are probably made of stone.
3)
Tibetan Sky Burial
When I first learned of Tibetan sky
burial, it made me feel somewhat uncomfortable. The thrust of this practice is
that the deceased, after being dismembered, is left outside (in a natural
place, not near homes or whatnot) to be consumed by birds of prey. I felt
uneasy when first learning this because of my conventionally western upbringing
– it’s a particularly western notion to conceive a connection between the “self”
and the “body”. To Tibetan monks that practice sky burial, it represents providing sustenance to nature, and the acknowledgement that the body is nothing
more than a “shell” for the “self”. Sky Burial acts as a meaningful reminder
for me to look past my per-conceived notions of mortuary practice and
self-conception.
4)
Viking Burials
In class Viking burials have been discussed
on a couple of occasions. Although it’s difficult to create a full, accurate
picture of what a Viking burial would have looked like (and as usual, it’s
usually the noblemen or upperclassmen that have a greater presence on the archeological
record), sources indicate that it was a dramatic affair. Ibn Fablin and
archeological findings indicated ship-burning, sacrifices, numerous grave
goods, and feasting.
5)
Green Burials
So it turns out that western burials and
cremation practices are actually incredibly bad for the environment. In particular,
traditional burial practices (embalming, pouring concrete around the grave
borders, un-biodegradable casket materials) are damaging to the environment. In
Canada and the U.S. there has been a recent movement to “green burials”. This
means not embalming the deceased individual, using a biodegradable casket which
result in the deceased decomposing into the ground. In a way, I would argue
that green burials are somewhat similar to sky burials – there is an acceptance
of the destruction of the body and a wish to be connected to the earth.
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