Funeral Service History

Cro-Magnum

10,000 BCE

The Cro-Magnum people would bury their dead in the fetal position. Bodies were wrapped in skins and placed on reed mats on the bottom of graves.

Timespan

Period: 10,000 BCE to 1500

Includes significant events, people, practices or developments as related to the history of funeral service.

Chinese

6500 BCE

The dead were often buried in containers meant to preserve the dead. These graves would contain grave goods like money, red envelopes, and eggs. Originally, burial rites were created out of fear of the dead, but later evolved into elaborate ceremonies for the deceased. Common practices included planting a tree on the grave to provide the soul with strength and protection from corruption.

Egyptian

5500 BCE

Mummification was the most common death practice in Egypt. Beginning accidentally, they later began to mummify intentionally. Over 70 days the bodies were embalmed and mummified with natron, sterilized with organs being placed in canopic jars, and the body was wrapped and placed in a sarcophagus. Some mummies were buried with funeral masks to help preserve and identify the dead.

Mesopotamians

5000 BCE

Bodies were placed in simple stone/clay containers buried underneath their homes or in graveyards. The use of grave markers was uncommon, although there is evidence of memorial markers being found inside temples. Cremation was uncommon due to the costs associated with collecting wood for large fires, in an area with already scarce access to wood.

Maya

2000 BCE

Burial and cremation were both acceptable with common people buried at home or in house mounds. The rich would be buried in temples and places that were highly decorated and filled with offerings like food, water, jewelry, and other worldly possessions. The very rich may also be interred with human and animal sacrifices.

Celts

1200 BCE

The Celtic dead were buried in simple graves. One could distinguish the class of the dead by what grave goods were left to help the dead in the afterlife. Grave goods ranges from entire wagons to Greek wine. Celtic nobility was often buried with gold, silver, and bronze.

Greeks

800 BCE

Greek funerals consisted of 3 parts (prothesis, ekphora, and periderpnon) and were highly regulated. The dead would be buried outside the city in tile graves with stone markers before the sun rose. The graves were simple but may have been adorned with fruits and vegetables to symbolize purification. In the case of cremation, the container with remains were either placed directly in the ground or buried within a box.

Etruscians

768 BCE

Bodies were placed in underground tombs that had chambers, the dead would be placed on stone beds. Tombs were designed to be as comfortable as possible for the dead and made to look like houses with fake windows, doors, and painted ceilings. Bodies were buried with grave goods like furniture, weapons, and jewelry. Although cremation was common it was not universally practiced. They held funeral games in honor of the deceased, which would serve as inspiration to roman gladiator fights.

Romans

753 BCE

Funerals were carried out by paid Libitinarius and their personnel. Bodies were washed and anointed, dressed, and either cremated or buried outside of the city. Based on wealth the dead could be placed in an intricate container with an elaborate wake, or simply put directly into the ground/river without rites. Offerings such as food and drink were left at the site. It was in Rome where mausoleums, catacombs, and burial clubs originated.

Middle Ages

476 BCE

Death practices were controlled by the Catholic church. Pre-plague burials consisted of women washing, clothing, and shrouding the body, which would be buried in graves often without a coffin. Post-plague burials were rushed and often immediate interments in unmarked mass graves with few funeral rites.

Hebrew

70 BCE

In Jewish tradition burial was the only acceptable method of disposition. The body would be washed, eyes and mouth closed, shrouded, and placed on rock shelves in tombs outside of the city. Over time skeletons and grave goods would be found in heaps along the side of these tombs as room was made for new burials.

Christian

30

They followed the Jewish tradition of burial with most funerals being simple affairs. Bodies were washed, anointed, shrouded and placed on rock shelves in tombs outside the city. Those who could not afford to be interned in a tomb were simply buried. After 314 CE the use of a coffin was required, and funeral banquets were banned.

Mound Builders

200

The dead were buried in mounds lined with wood or stone. The body was wrapped in skins and placed on a bed of bark. Cremation was more common among common folk while burial was reserved for the wealthy. Grave goods such as weapons, mica silhouettes, and tools were found.

Vikings

800

Burial was the most common method until cremation was adopted. Both were acceptable methods. Most dead were buried near the home or in groups. They could be interred in ships; in some cases, both the ship and body were burned together.

Inca

1400

The dead were preserved with balsams, dried, and dressed. The corpse would be placed in the fetal position inside a tomb with grave goods such as food and jewelry. In some cases, there were human, and animal sacrifices made to the dead.