Why are graves 6 Feet Under?
They most often are not. The term "6 feet under" is a euphemism for being dead and buried. The term may date back to the London Plague of 1665, when the Lord Mayor of London ordered that all "graves shall be at least 6-foot deep" under the presumption that doing so would prevent the spread of disease. 1
Are graves in London always 6 feet deep?
While it's possible that London's 1665 plague orders created the lasting impression that graves are always 6 feet deep, it's not likely. These orders weren't in force very long because the plague outbreak dissipated in 1666 after the Great London Fire.
Why is there a 6 foot standard for burial?
It's possible officials believed 6 feet of soil would keep animals from digging up corpses. Londoners didn't know the plague was spread by fleas on rats, so they may have also thought deep burial would keep the disease from spreading. There are a few reasons why this probably isn't the origin of the 6-foot standard.
Why are people buried 6 feet deep?
Many believed that ‘6’ feet was the maximum depth at which a grave digger could stand and still be able to scoop soil out of the grave conveniently with a spade without using a ladder or a winch. These theories tries to justify why people are being buried 6 feet deep.
Why do people want to be buried in shallow graves?
In fact, some people wish to be buried in a shallow grave because they want the decomposition of their bodies to benefit the surrounding trees and bushes. If bodies are buried too deep, they may not decompose as quickly.
How deep should a grave be for a funeral?
As you consider your funeral wishes, research burial grave depths in your area. Even though most would think that the legal requirement is six-feet-deep, most areas permit much shallower graves.
What did Chinese grave robbers do?
Chinese grave robbers removed jade burial suits from corpses. The deeper a body is buried, the more time a grave robber would need to extract the body and remove the treasure. The longer it takes for a grave robber to complete his work increases the likelihood that he would be caught.
What is the grave robbery theory?
Grave robber theory. Grave robbery has been a problem across cultures for centuries. Robbers sought Egyptian tombs for the treasures within the pyramids. European grave robbers took the metal from coffins and sold the bodies to students for study. Chinese grave robbers removed jade burial suits from corpses.
What is the theory of grave digging?
Gravedigger theory. Another common sense theory is that when graves were dug by hand, a man wouldn’t be able to get out of enclosures that were deeper than six feet. Any deeper may also be more likely to collapse, leaving the gravedigger underneath a mound of dirt.
How far below the ground is a casket?
Texas: Texas’s Health and Safety Code states that the casket must not be “less than two feet below the surface of the ground if the container is not made of an impermeable material; or less than 1-1/2 feet below the surface of the ground if the container is made of an impermeable material.”.
What happens if you bury a body too deep?
If bodies are buried too deep, they may not decompose as quickly. An eco-friendly burial would be at the depth where there are the most active bacteria and insects in the soil. As more research on grave depth is completed, expect to see more discussions of burial laws and grave depths across the country.
How much soil do you need for a burial?
Modern American burial laws vary from state to state, though many states simply require a minimum of 18 inches of soil on top of the casket or burial vault (or two feet of soil if the body is not enclosed in anything).
What is a modern burial?
A typical modern burial involves a body pumped full of chemical preservatives sealed inside a sturdy metal casket, which is itself sealed inside a steel or cement burial vault. It’s less of a hospitable environment for microbes than the grave used to be.
What did the Mayor of London say about the plague?
As the disease swept the country , the mayor of London literally laid down the law about how to deal with the bodies to avoid further infections. Among his specifications—made in “Orders Conceived and Published by the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London, Concerning the Infection of the Plague”—was that “all the graves shall be ...
Is a vault used for a burial?
For untypical burials, though—where the body isn’t embalmed, a vault isn’t used, or the casket is wood instead of metal or is foregone entirely—even these less strict burial standards provide a measure of safety and comfort.
How deep is a grave?
There are many theories that try to justify the origin of digging the grave ‘6’ feet under. Here are three reasons why graves are dug ‘6’ feet deep.
How deep can a grave digger dig?
Many believed that ‘6’ feet was the maximum depth at which a grave digger could stand and still be able to scoop soil out of the grave conveniently with a spade without using a ladder or a winch.
Why do people dig their graves at 6 feet?
When the bubonic plague hit the area, the mayor of London immediately issued a law on how to properly deal with dead bodies ...
How deep should a grave be in New Orleans?
In modern standards for burial grounds, there is no need for the grave to be six feet deep. In particular, flood-prone areas like New Orleans wouldn’t want their dead to follow the six feet under rule, since it will only result to waterlogging and coffins springing from the ground. Even up to the present day, New Orleans faces this problem.
How much soil do you need for a burial vault?
In Americas, the laws would differ from one state to another. In some, coffins or burial vaults would only need 18 inches of soil on top of them.
Why are graves six feet deep?
Graves are six feet deep because medical practitioners in London in 1665 mistakenly thought deceased plague victims spred the disease ( among other crazy ideas) and burying the bodys six feet deep would slow/stop the spread of the disease. There is no law saying a grave should be six feet deep. 133 views.
Why do cemeteries lay out graves?
More modern cemeteries are not so picky, and lay out the graves so as to most efficiently use the available space. Footstones are VERY common, particularly in large commercial cemeteries, or any cemetery established in recent years. And there are a couple of reasons.
How much earth is needed for a casket in Texas?
But here in Texas, the law speaks about the TOP of the grave, not the bottom. A casket must be covered by a mi imum of 2 feet of earth. If it is in a concrete or steel outer burial container (a vault is a little fancier), then one and a half feet is ok.
What type of casket should I use for cremation?
Some families choosing cremation will choose a casket designed for that. Others will choose a normal wood casket. A few will choose a rental casket, where the lining is replaced at every use. Probably the majority of cremation families will choose a non-decorative simple box for the cremation.
Why was Diana's body not put in the morgue?
In Diana’s case the body had been left in a warm hospital room and was not put in the morgue (reportedly for “security reasons ”). The body began decomposing in the August heat and there were concerns about what to do. Fans were placed in the room. The body was hastily embalmed.
What were cages in the grave?
The cages were the cheaper version of a grave without that cement tomb. The world didn’t hand out free food so there were grave robbers. People worked all day at work got paid pennies or nothing or were in fact a slave and one ring or gold necklace could make the difference in being free or not.
Is a headstone more common than a footstone?
And there are a couple of. Continue Reading. As you might gather from all the other answers, “ Headstones” are far more common than are “footstones” At least they use to be.