Prompt Cast
The Evolution of Burial Practices Throughout History
TLDR From early funeral rites dating back to primates and Neanderthals to the creation of modern cemeteries in the 19th century, burial practices have evolved significantly. This article explores the use of headstones, the rise of unmarked graves, and the reasons behind them, as well as the history of government furnished headstones and state-run funerals.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
Humans have been burying the dead for a long time, with evidence of early funeral rites and respect for the deceased dating back to primates and Neanderthals.
05:03
Humans have been burying the dead for a long time, with evidence of early funeral rites and respect for the deceased dating back to primates and Neanderthals.
10:04
The rural cemetery movement in the 19th century led to the creation of modern cemeteries that were park-like and allowed for picnics, and headstones began to include inscriptions and symbols.
15:07
The Victorians had elaborate headstones and tombs in park-like cemeteries, and their symbols were more hopeful and uplifting than the Puritans' death's head.
19:57
Some people have chosen humorous or humble epitaphs for their gravestones, while others have opted for more dramatic or boastful ones, and there was a problem with gravestone markers in the Y2K era when people had to have their headstones re-etched because they lived into the 2000s.
24:47
Government furnished headstones, also known as Obama Stones, were originally used to mark graves in mass grave sites, but it wasn't until the 19th century that they started marking individual graves, and after the Civil War, efforts were made to relocate soldiers buried in battle to official graves.
29:48
After a debate over what material to use for headstones, marble was chosen and in 1873, Secretary of War William W. Belknap designed permanent headstones for known Union soldiers, which later expanded to include all soldiers who fell in battle in the United States, with the dimensions of the official military headstone being 39 inches tall, 12 inches wide, and four inches thick.
34:31
An unmarked grave is a grave without a marker, headstone, or nameplate, and there are various reasons why someone might choose to have an unmarked grave, including being a historically bad person.
39:36
Executed criminals often have unmarked graves to show contempt for their actions and to prevent people from causing harm to the grave site, while some famous people may also have unmarked graves to avoid becoming tourist attractions.
44:16
Famous people like Mozart, John Wayne, George C. Scott, Frank Zappa, Roy Orbison, Bessie Smith, and Bobby Driscoll are buried in unmarked graves for various reasons, including wanting to be humble, avoiding disrespectful behavior, and financial constraints.
49:22
State-run funerals are not elaborate, unless it's for a head-of-state, and you can check out 21 Remarkable Epitaphs on the website stuffyoushouldknow.com.
Categories:
Society & Culture
