People may have also buried bodies 6 feet deep to help prevent theft. There was also concern that animals might disturb graves. Burying a body 6 feet deep may have been a way to stop animals from smelling the decomposing bodies. A body buried 6 feet deep would also be safe from accidental disturbances like plowing.
The earliest known reference to a requirement for a six-foot burial occurred in 1665 during the Great Plague of London. John Lawrence, the Lord Mayor of London, ordered that the bodies of plague victims "...
Dead and buried, as in No, you can't read my diary—not until I'm six feet under. Although this expression alludes to what has long been the traditional depth of a grave, that is, approximately the same as the length of the coffin, it dates only from the mid-1900s.
However, most modern graves in the United States are only 4 feet (1.2 m) deep as the casket is placed into a concrete box (see burial vault) to prevent a sinkhole, to ensure the grave is strong enough to be driven over, and to prevent floating in the instance of a flood.
In the past, there was not much of a practical reason to bury loved ones standing up. Having the body horizontal was much easier for the gravedigger, and made it possible for the family to have space to mourn around the grave. As time progressed, space became more of a concern.
Archaeologists suggest that positioning a person's skull face-down in their grave signifies that the community not only wanted to humiliate the person, but also make it more difficult for them to rise from the dead. “In particular, the prone burial was linked to the belief that the soul left the body through the mouth.
The practice of burying the dead so their face would face the rising sun goes back to ancient Egyptians and Greeks who worshipped the sun god. According to their beliefs, it was most appropriate for their dead to face the sun to greet each new day.
If the grave site is low on water content or moisture, metal caskets are known to last even longer, over five decades. Under favorable weather conditions, experts say that metal caskets may even last more than that – up to 80 years.
And yet, in America, this forever-grave thing is actually in most states' law. With the exception of religious cemeteries (which often do this anyways), the state regulates how cemeteries save to ensure, theoretically, that they can maintain a grave forever.
Graves can be for a maximum of three full earth burials, depending on ground conditions in the cemetery. The depth has to be determined with the first burial. In a dedicated cremation plot, designed solely for cremated remains, ten caskets can be interred.
Six feet is the distance that animals can no longer smell a dead body and dig it up. Farmers in some areas are required by law to bury their dead animals 6 feet deep.
Spiritual teachers and biblical references suggest that our beloved departed ones may know when we visit their grave, and people may feel a sense of being watched or comforted when they visit a loved one's grave.
In a hundred years, the last of your bones will have collapsed into dust, and only the most durable part of your body, such as teeth, grave wax and some nylon threads. This may seem like a scary thought, but at least it won't happen for another hundred years, so don't worry too much yet.
What's the difference between a casket and coffin?
Unlike caskets, coffins have six sides to them instead of four. Plus, the top of the coffin is wider than its bottom. Coffins get tapered to conform to the shape of a human form. A coffin also has a removable lid while caskets have lids with hinges.
When this happens, the cemetery stops receiving new burials. The current burial sites within the cemetery continue to be maintained. In some cases, the management of the cemetery may opt to open up a new cemetery elsewhere. They will therefore be able to receive more burials at the new site.
How long do you own the cemetery plot? In most cases, when you buy a plot, you own it forever. There are some states with laws that allow them to reclaim the space if a certain amount of time passes with no activity at the gravesite. This time span is usually 50 years or more.
Today, some cemeteries rent out plots, which allows people to lease a space for up to 100 years before the grave is allowed to be recycled and reused. Many countries around the world have resorted to this process as their available land begins to fill.
Once buried, most caskets cannot keep bugs out indefinitely due to the natural decomposition process. However, some measures – such as the use of burial vaults and airtight seals – can keep bugs out for hundreds or even thousands of years.
They scavenge corpses on the surface, but they can't dig down to a coffin. Maggots can't find a buried corpse in coffin either, unless eggs are laid on the body before it is buried.
Can a husband and wife be buried in the same casket?
Can Couples Be Placed in the Same Coffin? While it may be possible if there is a big enough coffin and plot to accommodate the couple, there are many other logistical constraints that may not permit this to happen. Having a large enough casket for two may not be easily transportable.
No running, yelling, or rolling around on the ground. This is not a place for childhood games. Don't let them play on any of the monuments. While it is good to get children used to paying respects at a cemetery, they often don't fully understand the meaning of everything in the cemetery.
A headstone is typically placed at the head of a grave–it can be inscribed with the name of the person who died, other important information, and even a special message from the family.