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The first evidence of cremation emerges at least 20By the Neolithic period about 10,000 years ago , cremation was more widespread in Europe and the Near East. It seems for some time, both practices were used, sometimes together in Australiathe same community, although very likely it is even older than suggesting that and occurred somewhere in Africa one form of burial practice may have not become over dominant or Asiathe only accepted form of burial. It is not clear why This began to change by the Chalcolithic period at about 7000-6000 years ago. By then, emerging patterns suggest that cremation first emerged but it could either be due have been more specific to emerging ritualistic given cultural groups. Semitic populations in the Near East, for instance, strictly avoided cremation, where their religious practice prohibited it and suggested it would have adverse effect either in the afterlife or even for the living by haunting those who committed the practice. These prohibitions in the removal of bodies from a community so Semitic and Afro-Semitic populations, such as to avoid in Palestine, ancient Mesopotamia, and Egypt, continued through historical periods.<ref>For more on burial practices that emerged in the Old World, see: Ian Kuijt, Colin P. Quinn, & Gabriel Cooney (eds.) (2014) <i>Transformation by fire: the spread archaeology of diseasecremation in cultural context.</i> Amerind studies in anthropology. In factTucson, both reasons could be trueThe University of Arizona Press. </ref>
By Cremation emerges as common phenomenon in the Neolithic period Bronze Age (about 10,000 5000-4000 years ago, cremation was more widespread ) in Europe and the Near EastSouth Asia. It seems for some timeIn central and northern Europe, both practices were used, sometimes together in cultures from the same community, suggesting that one form of burial practice may have not become over dominant or the only accepted form of burial. This began Bronze Age to change by the Chalcolithic period at Iron Age (about 7000-6000 3000 years ago) appear to switch at times from burial to cremation. By then, emerging patterns suggest that cremation This could have been more specific be because of changing cultures due to given cultural groupsinvasions and migrations that occurred. Semitic populations in the Near EastThe Myceneans generally preferred inhumation, for instance, strictly avoided while later Greeks did practice cremation, where their religious practice prohibited it likely influenced by Anatolian cultures that also were influenced by Iranian and suggested it would have adverse effect either Indian cultures (i.e., the Indo-Aryan migrations that occurred in the afterlife or for 2nd millennium BCE).<ref>For more on the living spread of cremation practices by haunting those who committed the practice. These prohibitions in the Semitic and AfroIndo-Semitic populationsAryans, such as in Palestine, ancient Mesopotamiasee: Parpola, A. (2015) <i> The Roots of Hinduism: The Early Aryans and Egyptthe Indus Civilization.</i> New York, continued through historical periodsOxford University Press. </ref>
Cremation emerges as common phenomenon The longest, continual practice of cremation does appear to be in the Bronze Age (about 5000Indian sub-4000 years ago) in Europe and South Asia. In central and northern Europecontinent, where early Indus cultures from the Bronze Age and later ancient Indian societies continued to bury their dead even before the Iron Age (about 3000 years ago) appear to switch at times from burial to cremation. This could be because full emergence of changing cultures due to invasions Hinduism and migrations that occurredBuddhism. The Myceneans generally preferred inhumationAncient China and Japan appeared to have buried their dead, while although this practice would later Greeks did practice cremation, likely influenced by Anatlian cultures that also were influenced by Iranian and Indian cultures (i.e., the Indo-Aryan migrations that occurred in the 2nd millennium BCE)change.
The longest====Later Use====Up until the Roman period, cremation was common in Europe, including southern Europe. With the rise of Christianity, continual cremation began to die out as a practice throughout Europe as Christianity spread. In fact, Christians began to associate cremation as a pagan act, sometimes even seeing it as a type of fire sacrifice to the ancient gods rather than as a burial practice. Judaism had a strong prohibition regarding cremation does appear to be in and this likely influenced Christianity's prohibition that the Indian sub-continentchurch adopted. This is also true for Zoroastrians, where early Indus which originated with Iranian cultures and later ancient India societies continued . In their case, bodies were left for birds to bury their dead even before eat. Cremation, for Zoroastrians, was seen as corrupting the sacred fire. For Christians, cremation was seen as desecrating the body during the day of resurrection. With the influence of Christianity, cremation largely disappeared after the 1st millennium CE in Europe. Islam also had derived from Semitic origins, which meant it had also prohibited cremation since it was seen as desecrating the body.<ref>For more on the full emergence prohibition on cremation in monotheistic faiths, see: Beard, M., North, J.A. & Price, S.R.F. (1998) <i>Religions of Hinduism and BuddhismRome. Ancient China and Japan appeared to have buried their dead</i> Cambridge ; New York, Cambridge University Press, although this practice would later changepg. 18.</ref>
==Later Use==Cremation was at times practiced in Europe, but usually it was done as a form of punishment. For instance, during the Protestant Reformation period in the 16th century and later, Protestants were sometimes burned or their bodies were ritually burned as a way to prevent them from entering the afterlife. This, in a way, was similar to being burned at the stake, where this punishment was intended to prevent an afterlife as well as act as punishment.<ref>For more on some acts of cremation in Christianity, see: Eric Venbrux, Thomas Quartier, Claudia Venhorst, Brenda Mathijssen, et al. (eds.) (2013) <i>Changing European death ways.</i> Death studies volume 1. Zürich, Lit, pg. 122.</ref>
Up until the Roman period, cremation was common in Europe. With the rise of Christianity, cremation began to die out as a practice throughout Europe. Judaism had a strong prohibition regarding cremation and this likely influenced Christianity's prohibition that the church adopted. This is also true for Zoroastrians, which originated with Iranian cultures. In their case, bodies were left for birds to eat. Cremation, for Zoroastrians, was seen as corrupting the sacred fire. For Christians, cremation was seen as desecrating the body during the day of resurrection. With the influence of Christianity, cremation largely disappeared after the 1st millennium CE in Europe. Islam also had derived from Semitic origins, which meant it had also prohibited cremation since it was seen as desecrating the body.<dh-ad/>
Cremation was at times practices On the other hand, cremation spread in East Asia as Buddhism influenced Han Chinese and Japan. Thus, while cremation began to disappear from Europeand the Middle East, but usually it now spread in East Asia to areas where it was done previously prohibited, such as a form of punishmentin China (Figure 2). <ref>For instance, during more on the Protestant Reformation period spread of cremation in the 16th century and laterEast Asia, Protestants were sometimes burned or their bodies were ritually burned as a way to prevent them from entering the afterlifesee: Michael Dickhardt (ed. This) (2016) <i>Religion, place, and modernity: spatial articulations in a waySoutheast Asia and East Asia.</i> Social sciences in Asia VOLUME 40. Leiden, was similar to being burned at the stake, where this punishment was intended to prevent an afterlife as well as act as punishmentBrill.</ref>
On ====Cremation Today====[[File:1024px-2006 US cremation rates map.svg.png|thumbnail|left|350px|Figure 2. Cremation in the United States 2006.]]By the other hand17th century, doctors and some others influenced by emerging science began to call for the use of cremation as a means to dispose of the dead in a sanitary way in Western coutnries. It became increasingly evident that disease could be prevented from spreading by cremation spread . By 1870s, both in east Asia as Buddhism influenced Han Chinese Florence and Japan. Thusthe UK, while the idea of cremation began to disappear from be advocated even more greatly by physicians in Western Europe and . Sir Henry Thomson, who was a physician to Queen Victoria, was the Middle East, it now spread first prominent official in East Asia the UK to areas where it advocate cremation. During the Victorian period, the population was previously prohibitedgrowing rapidly. New cemeteries, such as in ChinaWoking Cemetery, were created for the now far greater number of bodies as high population also meant high death rates. For physicians, they increasingly became concerned that cemeteries could not keep up with demand and that bodies not properly buried would spread disease.
==Cremation Today==This, along with a publicized court case against an individual who wanted to cremate their child, led to the eventual agreement by the government to allow cremation, with Queen Victoria's backing. This paved the way for the construction of the first Crematorium in Woking, which also was conveniently located near the largest cemetery in the UK (Brookwood Cemetery). The benefit was that it also saved money for families and individuals who could not afford a normal funeral. The Victorian period was also known for a high number of impoverished people, which became an expense for local governments to bury if nobody claimed their bodies. With cremation, bodies can be more cheaply removed for those who were not claimed after their death. It still took some years after the 1870s for the crematorium to be built and tested, where finally in 1885 cremations became an option for the general population.<ref>For more on the early development of crematoriums in Europe, see: Avril Maddrell & James D. Sidaway (eds.) (2010) Deathscapes: spaces for death, dying, mourning and remembrance. Surrey ; Burlington, VT, Ashgate, pg. 244.</ref>
By the 17th centuryMeanwhile, doctors and some others influenced by emerging science cremations began to call for be practiced in Germany in 1878, with the use of cremation as a means to dispose town of Gotha adopting the dead in a sanitary way. It became increasingly evident that disease could be prevented from spreading by cremationpractice. By 1870s, both in Florence and In the UKUnited States, the idea of cremation practice began to be advocated more greatly by physicians in Western Europe. Sir Henry Thomson, who was a physician to Queen Victoria, was also at about the first prominent official same time in the UK to advocate cremation1876. During In the Victorian periodUnited States, the population was growing rapidly. New cemeteries, such cremations became increasingly legalized as Woking Cemetery, were created for the now far greater number of bodies as high population also meant high death rates. For physicians, they increasingly became concerned that cemeteries could not keep up with demand and people argued that dead bodies not properly buried would spread disease. This led began to the eventual agreement by the government, with Queen Victoria's backingcontaminate water systems, thus it became necessary to allow the construction of the first Crematorium cremate in Woking, which also was conveniently located near the largest cemetery high density locations (Figure 2).<ref>For more on cremations in the UK United States, see: Prothero, S.R. (Brookwood Cemetery2001). The benefit was that it also saved money. The Victorian period was also known for Purified by fire: a high number history of impoverished people, which became an expense for local governments to bury. With cremation, bodies can be more cheaply removed for those who were not claimed by anyone after their deathin America. It still took some years after the 1870s for the crematorium to be built and testedBerkeley, where finally in 1885 cremations became an option for the general populationUniversity of California Press. </ref>
Meanwhile, While cremations began to be practiced increasingly became accepted in Germany the Western world in the 1878late 19th century, with what finally made it even more acceptable to more religious populations was the town of Gotha adopting Pope lifting the practiceCatholic Church's ban on cremation in 1963. In the United StatesThis, in some way, the practice began was also at about the same time in 1876due to pressure from poorer Catholics who often could not afford normal burial and thus found cremation as a cheaper alternative. In the United StatesFor Protestants, most denominations became more accepting of cremations became increasingly legalized after World War I. Modern crematoriums were considered different in how they burned bodies, thus they were no longer seen as people argued that dead bodies began to contaminate being part of pagan ritual by those who were more religiously inclined.<ref>For more on the water systemlifting of prohibitions against cremation by major Christian denominations, thus it became necessary to cremate in high density locationssee: Douglas James Davies & Lewis H. Mates (eds.) (2005) Encyclopedia of cremation. Aldershot, England ; Burlington, VT, Ashgate, pg. 383. </ref>
While cremations increasingly became accepted in ====Summary====Cremation, at its origin, seems to have been a practice that was done along with inhumation of the deceased. By the Western world early historical periods in the late 19th centuryBronze Age, what finally made it even more acceptable we begin to see some cultures having more religious populations was the Pope lifting the Catholic Church's ban on specific burial practices, often only selecting inhumation or cremation in 1963. ThisSome societies, such as in some wayEurope, was also due to pressure from poorer Catholics who often could not afford normal burial switched between the two. By the Christian era, a stark divide emerged between Western regions in the Middle East and Europe and thus found East Asia. In East Asia, cremation practices spread with Buddhism, as a cheaper alternativethat religion spread, while in the Western cremation became prohibited and sinful, with rare exception performed on those seen as criminals or against Christianity. For ProtestantsIt was only in the late 19th century, with high population growth and the desire to prevent disease spread, most denominations became more accepting of that authorities slowly relaxed laws prohibiting cremations . Soon after World War I. Modern crematoriums were considered different in how they burned bodies, thus they were no longer seen as being part of pagan ritualcremation facilities throughout Europe and the United States opened.
==References=={{Contributors}}
Admin moved page How Did Cremation Emerge as a Death Ritual? to How Did Cremation Emerge as a Death Ritual
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[[File:Cremation of buddha and worship of relics 03.JPG|thumbnail|left|350px|Cremation shown from Gandhara from the 2nd century CE.]]
Cremation is one of the most common forms of death rituals. For eastern cultures, including Indo-Aryan derived groups, cremation has long been practice for the departed. More recently, cremation has also emerged as a way to conserve space and was used to prevent the spread of disease in crowded countries such as in the UK. There are both scientific and spiritual reasons for its emergence.
====Origin of Cremation====The first evidence of cremation emerges at least 20,000 years ago in Australia, although very likely it is even older than that and occurred somewhere in Africa or Asia. It is not clear why cremation first emerged but it could either be due to emerging ritualistic practice or even the removal of bodies from a community so as to avoid the spread of disease. In fact, both reasons could be true.<ref>For more on the origins of cremation, see: Jessica Cerezo-Román, Anna Wessman, & Howard Williams (eds.) (2017) <i>Cremation and the archaeology of death.</i> First edition. Oxford, Oxford University Press.</ref>
==Summary==References====<references/>
