Funeral Practices

In de Wet op de lijkbezorging is vastgelegd dat
de lichamen van onze doden een goede bestemming
moeten krijgen. Toegestaan zijn begraven,
cremeren, doneren aan de wetenschap, en in
uitzonderlijke gevallen een zeemansgraf.
Er dienen zich echter nieuwe technieken aan.
Alkalische hydrolyse, waarbij lichamen worden
opgelost in een verwarmde vloeistof, is er daar
een van. Gezien deze ontwikkelingen heeft
de minister van Binnenlandse Zaken en
Koninkrijksrelaties de Gezondheidsraad
verzocht een beoordelingskader op te stellen
voor de toelaatbaarheid van nieuwe vormen
van lijkbezorging. Co-auteur, als lid van speciaal samengestelde commissie van de Gezondheidsraad; gepubliceerd door Gezondheidsraad.

Aceptar la muerte, ese hecho único fatal e inevitable de la existencia, nunca ha sido algo natural en ninguna cultura y en ninguna época histórica.
Entre los muchos sistemas creados por el hombre para escapar, de alguna manera, al drama del fin biológico.  Es así como hay gran variedad de experiencias humanas que, rechazando la secular finitud de la muerte, entregan su destino final al juego de las esperanzas.  Siempre hay un adiós de los parientes, y un funeral. Para los miembros de la familia, el funeral tiene una función fundamental en el contexto observado (una provincia del centro de Italia). La pandemia de COVID-19, como en el caso de una guerra, hace imposible celebrar el duelo "socializado", alterando ideas y creando confusión entre las personas.
Este ensayo se basa en una investigación en dos etapas en un centro de cuidados paliativos (residencia de ancianos), antes y después de la propagación del virus y la suspensión de los funerales.

A chapter from the book ARCHAEOLOGY IN THE ŽITAVA VALLEY I: The LBK and Želiezovce settlement site of Vráble.

All three neighbourhoods at the Neolithic site of Vráble ‘Veľké Lehemby’/‘Farské’ (Nitriansky kraj, Slovakia) yielded human remains. The largest number was discovered in the 2017 campaign, which centred on two of the entrances through the enclosure around the south-western area. The assemblage comprises the remains of at least 19 individuals. While some of the skeletons lay on their side, either right or left, with hands in front of the face or in the lap, a large variety of other modes of treatment were present as well. Two individuals were found in long pits of houses, and ten individuals were deposited in ditch sections. Perimortem damage detected on the skeletal remains was most probably a result of post-mortem manipulation of the bodies shortly after death, either by small animals or by humans. This suggests that the bodies were probably left uncovered for a short period of time or placed in a shallow pit and buried under a thin covering layer (earth, shrouds, etc.). From at least three individuals, the head had been removed some time after deposition. Except for elderly individuals, all adult age categories are represented in the sample, with the prevalence of prime-aged individuals (25-35 years). Interpersonal violence is indicated by one case of healed cranial trauma. Other traumas are associable with either accidents or interpersonal violence. Palaeopathological and stable isotope analyses suggest that the special treatment of the individuals found in irregular positions may be connected with their social status.

The renovation of the church of St. Domingo de Silos in the town of Prádena del Rincón (Madrid), carried out between 2010 and 2012,
brought to light an unusual discovery – immured and decapitated statues of saints together with a pile of human bones. The sculptures
were carved in wood and dated to the first half of the 14th century according to experts. Two of them were identified as the Virgin Mary
and St. John the Evangelist. The third one may be St. Domingo de Silos or St. Thomas.
An anthropological analysis of the bones revealed that at least 12 individuals were buried there. Of that number, 7 were adults, 4 infants
and 1 new-born. Pathological changes of the bones indicated poor dental health, non-specific stress indicators and traumas.
Immurement, as a method of execution, existed in various epochs. However, in the case of the remains from the church of St. Domingo,
the position of the bones pointed out that it was the secondary burial. However, it is very strange that the bones were buried in such an
unusual place, knowing that a necropolis was located nearby. Possible reasons for that will be discussed in this article.