A Short and Interesting History of Cremation Urns
The religious practice of cremation probably began in Europe during the early Stone Age around 3,000 B.C. Since then, it has become a tradition for many cultures to cremate dead bodies. Throughout human history, the final remains of loved ones have been managed in multiple ways. The use of burial urns to store and bury ashes in is one such convention, which has been a personal choice for funerals.
Urns of Various Sizes
People use cremation urns made of different materials such as marble, glass, wood, bronze, ceramic, and metal. However, family customs and religious practices also influence the design of burial urns. In many cases, memorial urns take the form of a heirloom that is passed down through several generations. These urns come in various sizes to accommodate different volumes of ashes.
Discovery of Urns in India
In India, more than 160 burial urns were unearthed at an archaeological site between 1876 and the early 1900s. These urns were made of pottery, and there were illustrations of birds and animals on them. Along with these urns, many other objects such as spears, arrows and axes were found buried with the deceased. Incidentally, these sites form a part of ancient civilizations in the subcontinent.
Cremation Belief in China
In China, for a long time cremation was not accepted as a ceremony for the deceased. They believed in the preservation of one’s afterlife including the dead body. Apart from preserving the body, the Chinese placed objects related to daily living to make the deceased happy in the afterworld. With the arrival of Buddhism in China in the latter years, the Chinese became more receptive to the practice of cremation. Soon after that, they began placing funeral urns on the tombs of loved ones.
Present Scenario
Today, as the number of cremations in many communities and cultures increases, there is also a commensurate rise in the demand for urns - simple and plain or decorative. The types of urns we find in the market these days are very different from what they used to be, say, 100 years ago. They are now available in a range of shapes and sizes as well as in different materials including wood, metal and stone. Among metal urns, brass urns are known to last much longer than other urns and they can withstand the vagaries of weather.
Conclusion
Whether one uses the traditional funeral pyre system as in India, or the electric cremation process already prevalent in the West, the use of cremation vessels for ashes is only growing popular. People usually choose urns that readily blend with their home decor, and ones on which they can easily engrave the details of the deceased, either a human being or a pet. Whatever type of urn you choose, one thing is undeniable that urns preserve the memories of our loved ones for centuries.