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The History of Human Natural Burial: How did ancient cultures view death?
The concept of natural burial is gaining more and more attention in today's society. This burial method allows the body to return to nature and integrate with the soil without being disturbed by chemicals. However, this practice is not new; in fact, natural burials date back thousands of years. In different cultures, the concept of death and its burial methods show diverse aspects, reflecting people's profound thinking about the meaning of life and the nature of death.
Natural burial means burying the body in the soil, allowing it to naturally degrade and reintegrate into the natural circulation system.
Although natural burial may seem like a relatively modern concept now, historically it has been practiced by many cultures such as Muslims and certain African countries, mostly out of faith, tradition or economic necessity. During China's Cultural Revolution, burial also began to outpace cremation in popularity, showing an emphasis on land and tradition. In the Brazilian Amazon rainforest, there is even a tradition of using tree roots as burial sites. These examples not only demonstrate the deep connection between humans and nature, but also reflect that death is an important part of the natural cycle.
According to archaeologists' findings, the earliest known human burial dates back to about 73,000 to 82,000 years ago and is that of a young child in what is now Kenya. The practice of natural burial has emerged endlessly throughout the long history of mankind, but with the acceleration of modernization, traditional burial methods such as preservative technology and the use of burial racks have gradually replaced the natural cycle.
Natural burial brings the body into direct contact with the soil, promoting microbial activity, as occurs during composting.
Diverse natural burial methods
According to the classification of the U.S. Green Burial Council, natural burial areas can be divided into three types: mixed burial areas, natural burial areas, and protective burial areas. These cemeteries not only limit the use of chemicals during the burial process, but also require the configuration of the cemetery and environmental protection, highlighting the concept of harmonious coexistence with nature.
Natural burial sites also display a wealth of creativity in the way they remember their loved ones. Some families choose to record the GPS coordinates of where their deceased loved ones were buried, rather than using traditional tombstones or using natural stones or trees as memorials. This not only avoids the impact of traditional cemeteries on the environment, but also allows the buried to maintain the original appearance of the environment, further emphasizing the inseparable connection between life and nature.
Some practitioners use burial fees to purchase land, perform local environmental restoration, and even save endangered species.
Environmental considerations of burial methods
Traditional burial methods are often accompanied by long-term damage to the environment. According to statistics, there are more than 22,500 cemeteries in the United States each year, and the items to be buried include tens of thousands of hardwood and steel caskets. The manufacture and processing of these materials not only consumes a lot of resources, but also causes pollution to soil and groundwater. In contrast, natural burial focuses on the soil improvement brought about by the natural degradation of the body, and many cemeteries also undergo ecological restoration.
Many communities are currently trying to turn cemeteries into reusable public spaces, such as parks and recreational areas, which shows that society's diverse understanding of death has reached a new level. While such an idea can cause some controversy because people want a quiet space when mourning, it also opens up new thinking about traditional burial methods.
The influence of culture and religious practice
In Judaism and Islam, burial methods are subject to strict religious regulations. For example, Jewish law prohibits embalming and requires the use of all-wooden coffins that should not contain metal. All this shows respect and cherishment of life. In contrast, Islam emphasizes simplicity and respect, wrapping the body in white cloth and burying it in natural soil. These practices are very consistent with the concept of natural burial.
In many cultures, death is not the end but another connection between the individual and nature. Through natural burial, we can think more deeply about the meaning of life and the value of its existence. As society's awareness of environmental protection and heritage increases, natural burial as an option has received more attention.
As humans continue to explore the relationship between nature and death, we cannot help but wonder: What kind of imagination and understanding of life does our choice of natural burial reflect?
