Burials throughout history have changed a great deal, however, the commemoration of loved loans is an ever-present theme. Differing beliefs have shaped how cultures honoured the dead - this blog will explore just a few of the many diverse ways humanity has honoured their dead.
Neanderthals Funeral Memorials
Although in popular culture Neanderthals have been portrayed as unintelligent and brute-like, archaeological evidence contests this on many occasions. It has recently come to light that in Iraq inside a cave archaeologists found pollen traces surrounding Neanderthal corpses unearthed in the middle of the 20th century, this has provided a conversation as to if Neanderthals properly buried their dead or not and used funeral connoting items such as flowers in order to honour their dead and if there were any types of rituals or not.
Long Barrows: The Neolithic Gravestones
The Early Neolithic period, between the fifth and fourth millennia BCE, saw the construction of long barrows all throughout Western Europe. The oldest common history of stone construction in the world is represented by buildings made of stone, which are typically constructed from soil and either timber or stone.
Early Neolithic long-barrow buildings would have needed the cooperation of a variety of people and would have required a significant time and resource commitment. This demonstrates the importance to them as a community to respect their dead. The long barrows were a focal point of ritual activity mediated by the dead and acted as geographic markers associated with Early Neolithic conceptions of cosmology and spirituality.
The Ancient Egyptians and Their Pyramids
The Egyptian pyramids were constructed more than 4,600 years ago and held great cultural value in ancient Egypt since the Pharaohs were interred there. Family members of the Pharaoh were occasionally buried with them in the same tomb or in surrounding smaller satellite tombs. The Pharaoh's spirit, according to ancient Egyptian belief, stayed with his body after death, and these enormous monuments provided a secure pathway for this energy to enter the next life, pointing upwards towards heaven.
Norse Funeral Memorials
The ship burial is a Viking funeral practice traditionally reserved for individuals of high honour. The practice includes the burying of the individual within a ship, They were buried alongside decorative ornamentation that far exceeded the extravagance of traditional burials. Additionally, animal remains such as oxen or horses tended to be buried within the ship as well. Runestones would also be placed on top of the grave acting as somewhat of a modern tombstone.
At Stewarton Memorials Ltd, we understand how the way people honour the passing of their loved ones is unique to each individual and family. This is why we offer a range of funeral memorials so that you can pick one that best suits your loved one. To learn more, get in touch with our compassionate team - we will do our best to guide you through this difficult period. Please contact us on: 01698 357 493 / 01698 355 196 and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
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