What Type of Cremations Are There?
Cremation is the traditional process of destroying bodily remains using high heat. It is often thought of as a more practical way of disposing of a body, as burial sites are becoming less and less available due to lack of space. Cremation occurs in a kiln, where the body is burnt under extremely high temperatures, leaving only bone fragments and ashes. Currently, over 70 percent of the the American population chooses cremation as a way to dispose of their remains.
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The Modern Cremation
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A modern crematorium (the place where cremation takes place) may be part of a funeral home or a chapel or church. Usually, these buildings have one or two industrial furnaces that generate temperatures of up to 980°C (1,796°F). This is to ensure full disintegration of the remains. At the end of a funeral, the coffin is put into a chamber where the body is placed in a retort, an elevator style system lined with heat-resistant refractory bricks. The coffin goes into the retort quickly to avoid heat loss inside the kiln. Usually, family and friends do not watch this part of the service, however, some crematoria allow relatives to view the coffin until it actually enters the kiln. At the end, crematorium workers collect the ashes and place them in an urn. They are then available to the family a matter of hours later.
A Green Cremation
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A green cremation is an increasingly popular choice throughout America and the United Kingdom. It involves a process similar to a modern cremation but differs in how the ashes are disposed of. During a traditional cremation the ashes are usually stored in non-biodegradable casks and urns made from brass, bronze, or stone. A green cremation follows the practice of being environmentally friendly by burying the ashes themselves inside a biodegradable urn made from paper, card or other recycled materials. Over the years, the urn with the ashes still inside, will biodegrade in the chosen memorial place.
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Sea Cremation
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Sea cremations are carried out in several different ways. The most common of these methods is to have a modern funeral and then scatter the ashes at sea. However, sea cremations can be carried out in other ways. The first includes a memorial service out at sea that is carried out by a certified ship captain or a member of the military. The cremation will have already taken place in a crematorium on land, then the family will drive miles off shore and scatter the ashes (stored in a non-biodegradable urn) throughout the memorial service on board. Secondly, there are biodegradable urns available that can be thrown overboard as part of the ceremony.
Space Cremation
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Space cremation is the method used to enter ashes into space. The cremated ashes of a deceased person are placed in a capsule, approximately 3 inches in height, and are launched into space using a specified rocket. However this method is very uncommon as it is expensive and only one company presently provides this service. According to John Grigsby, the author of 'Ways we Handle the Dead', only 150 people have been 'buried' in space between 2004 and 2011.
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References
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