burials

Burial is the interment of human remains in a designated resting place, such as a grave, tomb, crypt, or ossuary. It commonly follows a funeral rite and may involve the burial of the whole body (inhumation) or of cremated remains in an urn. Other arrangements include burial at sea or natural/green burials that minimize environmental impact.

Locations include cemeteries, churchyards, family plots, and ceremonial halls with crypts or mausoleums. Burial rites vary widely, often including processions, prayers, and the placing of grave markers or memorials. Grave goods were common in many ancient cultures but are less universal today.

Religious traditions shape burial practices: Christian rites often emphasize burial and remembrance; Islam prescribes burial soon after death with modest rites; Hinduism commonly favors cremation; Judaism has specific laws about burial and ritual purity; Buddhism often uses cremation or burial with emphasis on impermanence.

Modern burials face regulatory, ethical, and environmental issues: embalming, regulatory approvals, cemetery management, space scarcity, and sustainable alternatives such as green burials or cremation with environmentally friendly practices. Archaeology and heritage preservation study burials to learn about past populations, while memorial practices, such as headstones, urns, columbariums, and online memorials, provide social remembrance.