The History of Cremation and Cremation Urns.
It’s inevitable. You are born, you live – some more than others – and then you die. But what happens after that? Throughout history, the remains of the dead have been handled in different ways, and the traditions followed were often dependent upon religious or family beliefs. There are only two options - Burial or Burning. Unless, of course, science finds a way to successfully cryogenically preserve you till your grandchildren are grandparents themselves. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves yet. There’s plenty of time before that seems like a possibility.
It’s quite intriguing – you do what society, religion or the law dictates. You follow in your parents’ footsteps. But do you really know what led you to end up the way you do? House of Urns is here to let you in on some of the lesser known facts about cremation.
How Cremations Urns Came to Be – Urnfield Culture
A Late Bronze Age culture of Europe, commonly known as ‘Urnfield Culture’, believed in pla Cubic Inchng the cremated bones of the dead in urns. In the heart of Europe, stretching from eastern France to Hungary and from northern Italy to Poland, in the period from about 1300 to 700 BC, there developed a considerable degree of cultural uniformity.
Archaeological surveys reveal that from the 12th century B.C. onward, the use of urn cemeteries or urnfields gradually spread to the Ukraine, Si Cubic Inchly, Scandinavia, and even across France to the Iberian peninsula. This pattern likely traces human migration in these regions. The origin and development of urnfields as a cultural tradition is still a much debated issue. The uniformity of the Urnfield culture and the persistence of certain pottery and metal forms seemingly had a strong influence on the later culture of the Early Iron Age.
It’s interesting to note that this practice of cremating the remains of a loved one nearly came to a screeching halt. As Christianity grew, believers across the globe objected strongly to cremation due to their belief that the entire body should be buried.
Why Cremation is the Way to Go
The Cremation Society of North America promotes the use of cremation urns as the preferred method of disposal. As population numbers continue to grow and land becomes scarce, cemeteries cannot expand in some places, making cremation a viable choice. Religious sentiment aside, from time immemorial, cremation has been a preferred option.
Affordability – Organizing a burial while mourning the loss of a loved one is tough – especially when there are large bills to consider. With cremation, there is no need for an expensive casket, no headstone, no cemetery plot.
Don’t worry about space - With the rise in population, we are seriously running short of burial land. A cremation urn takes up considerably less space than burying a body in a traditional funeral with casket and vault.
It’s a whole lot simpler: Many people do not like the pomp associated with a normal funeral and prefer something simpler. Cremations are simple and the level of ceremony is up to you. It’s also a bonus that embalming is not required.
Personalization: Cremation does offer you that final opportunity to truly define who you are. The days of keeping ashes safely in the crematorium memorial garden are fading away. You can have your ashes scattered ion water, placed on a mantelpiece or even stored in jewelry – a keepsake for everyone you’ve left behind. Cremation jewelry is fast becoming a popular method of keeping your loved one close to you.