Guidance for Reburial of Human Remains : Practical Issues

 

When a museum or other organisation is in the process of making a decision about whether or not to rebury human remains in their care, a lack of knowledge with respect to the practicalities of doing so may be a factor that detracts from the best solution.  The aim of this document is to present clear, practical advice for organisations in order to ease the making of such decisions, or indeed to guide those for whom the decision has already been made.

The human remains for whom this Guidance is relevant will be over one hundred years old and thus not covered by the Human Tissue Act (2004), dating from preChristian Britain, of overtly Pagan faith, or unprovenanced.

It is assumed that there is very little funding available for the reburial.  Where an organisation is able to secure significant funding, HAD would advise that a discussion group is set up, including all interested parties, to consider all alternatives available.  For advice on consultation, see our Consultation Policy (http://www.honour.org.uk/node/39).

For a museum with little funding and no prior experience of a project such as the reburial of human remains, the following should cover all the necessary steps and eventualities.  We have used the term ‘museum’, but acknowledge that it may be a university, historical society, archaeological unit or other heritage body that has chosen to rebury human remains held in their care.

Issues considered in this document:

  1. publicity – cautions and benefits, including the possibility that publicity may encourage the provision of goods and services free of charge
  2. local community engagement – the value of involving others
  3. containers – what might the remains be placed in and who can help with that
  4. a location – where might be considered a suitable location for reburial and where can more information be found
  5. orientation – should the remains be laid out in a certain way or orientation
  6. cremated remains – is cremation an option, and what about the reburial of ashes
  7. funeral directors – what advantage would there be in having a funeral director involved in the reburial 
  8. memorialisation – should the grave(s) be marked, how might this be done, and who can help
  9. coffin goods – what should be interred with the remains and who might usefully be involved with that
  10. a ceremony for the reburial – should there be a ceremony and who might lead this so as to ensure relevance and inclusivity.

 

1)  Publicity for Reburial

HAD would advise that there be no publicity prior to the event, as ill-informed media coverage and subsequent internet debate can be unhelpful.  Community involvement prior to the reburial should already have taken place, consultation usually being a part of the decision-making process that leads to reburial.  For the reburial itself, however, publicity can be advantageous.  Journalists and photographers could be invited to attend the event and allowed to take photographs.

The benefits of media coverage, particularly if it is local media (newspapers, magazines, television and radio), are that local businesses may well be willing to give their services free of charge.  Letting businesses know that the event will be covered in the media will give them free publicity.  It is hard to advertise funeral services, and beautiful photographs and editorial are always sought after by local companies.  This could reduce costs substantially.

Furthermore, where there has been positive media coverage about reburial, particularly following consultation, a local community will feel further invested in the decision, supporting the work of the museum. 

2)  Local Community Engagement

Throughout this document there are suggestions that the museum contact local groups, including historical societies, re-enactment societies, the Pagan community, schools and even the WI.  Although liaison with various groups may take time, promoting local involvement will increase support locally, not only for the reburial but for the museum itself.  It may well also be a way of accessing resources at minimal cost or free of charge. 

3)  Containers for the Remains

One of the first things to consider is what the remains will be buried in.  It is important to know this before addressing the issue of a cemetery or burial ground, or approaching a funeral director.  We would advise environmentally friendly containers of some sort, in order to add to the ethical focus of the reburial process, and perhaps offer the opportunity to consider materials that may have been in use at the time when the deceased were alive. 

Consider whether individuals' bones might be placed in separate containers (e.g. bags made of natural fibres), and then placed into a larger container (e.g. a basket or coffin made of woven willow). Consider how many coffins (or boxes) will be needed.  Would it be appropriate to separate remains into eras (e.g. Neolithic, RomanoBritish, Saxon, Mediaeval)?  You may end up with a number of  'boxes' each holding various separate 'bags' holding the remains of individuals.  Where it is not clear if bones are of one or several individuals, does it feel reasonable to place them together in one container?  Simplicity may be the key, but not if it diminishes any sense of respect.

If there are any implications that particular human remains were exhumed from an execration ritual (where the individual was clearly considered dangerous by their society), these should perhaps not be interred with other remains.  Consultation may decide that using the same grave is acceptable, but HAD would suggest the remains do not share a container with others.  HAD is willing to consult on this matter.

When looking at sourcing containers, consider the following possibilities:

  • re-enactment or historical societies may be interested in getting involved, to source or make the bags or boxes, perhaps with some degree of historical authenticity,
  • local Pagan groups may wish to be involved, as an expression of reverence and acknowledgement of the ancestors’ sanctity,
  • local WI groups may be willing to get involved, or other community groups, creating natural fibre containers, local schools may be interested too.

To confer a traditional dignity, consider using coffins or caskets for larger collections or whole skeletons.  Small companies may be willing to provide a coffin free of charge in return for publicity.  Infant or child coffins may be appropriate for small numbers of bones.  Cremated remains caskets would not look inappropriate, even for the interment of small pieces of bone.  Coffins or caskets should be of natural biodegradable materials, such as willow, bamboo, recycled card.  

Possible options are listed below, a web search would reveal others, or HAD can advise.

A coffin company may also be able and willing to provide natural fibre bags.  These would be in a heavy duty calico or the like.  

If you are to pay for the products, you should budget for around £35 for a cremated remains casket, £80 for an infant size coffin.  A small adult coffin should be no more than £150 for simple cardboard or £300 for woven willow.   (2010)

4)  Choosing a Place to Bury 

There may be a call for the remains to be reburied where they were first exhumed.  If this is known, and there is a possibility to rebury beneath an ongoing development, this should be considered as a primary option.  Development on top will keep the remains secure and costs may be minimal.  If a plaque could be erected at the site, acknowledging those who have been reburied, this would be ideal and allow another opportunity for community engagement.

If there is plenty of funding available, perhaps from the developers in question, many options could be considered, such as a memorial garden to be used as a multifaith space, the remains reburied beneath a large engraved stone.  Broad consultation, with all interested parties, would be beneficial.

However, most individuals cannot be reburied in the place of their exhumation, either because the development is already in place, or because such a grave would not be secure.  If this is the case, a location for reburial as close as possible to the place of exhumation should be considered.  

In circumstances where the original place of interment is unknown or any documentation has been lost, the remains may be reburied in any appropriate location.  The reburial ceremony should acknowledge the probability that the individuals are being reburied in a different land or landscape.

A natural burial ground is a good option for the reburial.  The advantage of a natural burial ground is that most provide plots in perpetuity, unlike a local authority cemetery which offers burial for a set length of time, after which the grave space may be reused.  A further benefit of a natural burial ground would be the focus on providing a more rural environment, where individuals who lived in a pre-industrial age would better find a sense of peace.

Many natural burial grounds may be willing to provide a grave plot free of charge in return for the publicity surrounding the reburial.  They may need to charge for gravedigging (interment) costs, unless their gravedigger is also willing to give his time free of charge.  Interment fees can vary from £160 - £800, depending on the site, with local authority cemeteries being the most expensive.  

The Association of Natural Burial Grounds can advise as to the nearest natural burial ground. http://www.naturaldeath.org.uk or 0871 288 2098.

If a natural burial ground does not seem appropriate (geographically, or it is not liked), the local authority cemetery can be considered.  It is possible that grave space might be donated free of charge here too, though gravedigging (interment) may need to be paid for.

HAD advises against using a cemetery that has been consecrated by any particular religious tradition, as this would seem inappropriate or even offensive for the reburial of human remains of preChristian or Pagan provenance.  

5)  Laying Out and Orientation

If there are sufficient remains from a single body, and any records showing how that individual was laid out in their original place of burial, this position should if at all possible be recreated.  This is true too of the orientation of the grave.

HAD’s council would suggest that, if the original orientation is not known, where possible the remains should be laid north/south, with the head in the north, the body laid on its side in a foetal position, with the head facing east. Alternatively, the body may be laid out east/west. 

6)  Cremated Remains

Exhumed cremated human remains, in the form of ashes in urns or other containers, are deemed as important as remains in the form of bones. These individuals’ remains should be considered for reburial in the same way.  

Because respectful reburial is not about removing the remains from a community’s consciousness, ashes should be reinterred and not scattered.  It is worth considering whether reburial might take place in a container similar to the one the individual was originally found in; the recreation of such a container would be a task taken on with eager pride by many craftsmen working in the Pagan community, re-enactment or historical societies, and the museum should make enquiries.  The honour of being involved in such a reburial would usually be sufficient for most craftmen, and no charge would be made.  If funding is available, however, the craftsman should be paid.

When looking at the reburial of bones, cremation should not be considered as an easy option for disposal.  Although we can know little of the wishes or traditions of the ancient dead we are dealing with, if an individual had wished to be cremated the chances are that they would have been. 

7)  Funeral Directors

What a funeral director provides is the traditional sense of dignity that is a part of British culture.  They may transport the coffins (or other containers) to the burial ground using a hearse, carry or shoulder them to the grave side, and lower them in.  Many funeral directors may well be willing to provide their services free of charge in return for a little publicity. 

A good funeral director may also be able to liaise with the burial ground, the media and any celebrant, if this is required; however, if they are to do this, they should be well briefed in advance.  

It is worth noting that:

  • It should be possible for all containers to be delivered to the museum for staff to lay out the remains themselves; the funeral director need not be involved in that part of the process.
  • If you have any full sized coffins, a hearse would provide the necessary dignity of transport.  However, it is unlikely any full sized coffins would be required.
  • Even if all containers can be transported in ordinary cars, a funeral director may still like to be involved, without charge, in order to help with carrying to the graveside and lowering into the grave.
  • If the traditional dignity of a funeral is considered unnecessary, and this may be the case if a natural burial ground were used, the lowering could be done by museum staff in association with natural burial ground staff.  In which case, if a funeral director cannot be found who is willing to donate his time free of charge, it may not be necessary to use one.

 8)  Marking the Grave

Whether or not the grave(s) is marked must be decided during the consultation, for reburial in an unmarked grave is quite a different decision to reburying individuals and ensuring their graves will be known using some sort of memorial plaque, stone or other marker.

Some natural burial grounds do not allow graves to be marked; some allow plaques elsewhere on the site; some allow graves to be marked with plaques, or other kinds of memorial sculpture or engraving.  It is important to ask these questions when making original enquiries.  If a site uses a mason or engraver, it would be worth asking if the museum might talk with them direct to ascertain if they would like to be involved and reduce their costs, or offer the piece free of charge.

At a local authority cemetery, a headstone would be more appropriate, in which case it may be worth contacting a local monumental mason and asking if they would be willing to provide a stone free of charge (or at cost) in return for publicity.  

Find out all that you need to know about memorials before making a decision as to where the remains will be buried.

9)  Coffin Goods

Consider what else might be placed in the coffins.  

During some debates and consultations about reburial, issues are raised about reuniting human remains with the funerary goods that were exhumed with them.  If individuals to be reburied have such goods connected with them, it would be worth exploring possibilities, perhaps in consultation with experts of the relevant era, together with staff from the reburial site (there may be restrictions as to what can be placed in a grave).  Reconstructions of the original goods should be considered; craftsmen from within the Pagan community, from re-enactment or historical societies, would no doubt be keen to get involved, often without charge.  As a last resort, symbols (such as images) of the original funerary goods should be placed into the grave with the remains, or items that are believed to have similar meanings.

A poignant and meaningful expression of respect would be to place some of the earth in which the remains were originally interred into the new grave plot.  This need not be seen as a chore for museum staff, but something delegated to someone for whom the act would be meaningful, such as the reburial celebrant, a local HAD representative or Pagan, or the archaeologist involved in the original exhumation.

In many cases, however, human remains that are to be reburied will have little contextual information, and no associated items.  If this is the case, it may still be worth talking with local historical or re-enactment societies, local schools, craftsmen or artists, the WI or Pagan community, to see who would like to be involved.  Suggestions could be presented to the museum and some appropriate items chosen.  This would allow further community engagement which can only benefit the museum as a whole.  

The use of red ochre is a frequent feature of palaeothic burials. Replenishing the ochre might be appropriate as a simple act of respect for bones of this era. For many modern Pagans red ochre is still an important part of their religious practice; the value of such an act is increased by this sense of continuity of tradition. HAD is willing to supply this where necessary.

Generally, HAD would advise simplicity.  Flower petals, herbs, a libation of ale, a hunk of bread, honey, salt, are simple gifts that honour the deceased.

10)  A Reburial Ceremony

A museum may be tempted to consider it sufficient for museum staff to create a ceremony themselves, fearing that anything more than this may stray dangerously towards religious/political complications, however HAD would advise against this.  

The role of a funeral celebrant is to take those present through the steps needed to acknowledge the lives and stories of the deceased, and bid them farewell before the grave is filled and they return to the earth: using a celebrant may well provide the reburial with a more significant, respectful and conclusive feel.  This is particularly important where the local community and media are present, where exhumation was felt to be disrespectfully done (e.g. by developers with bulldozers not expecting to find human remains, or clumsy amateur antiquarians), or where the remains have spent decades forgotten in some dusty attic or museum store.

Where the deceased are from preChristian Britain, it would not be respectful for a Christian minister to lead the ceremony, however.

Two simple options are these :

Many funeral celebrants will be happy to give their time at a reduced rate or free of charge if they feel themselves to be fully a part of the important process of reburial.  The normal fee for a celebrant is £100 - £180.  If you are finding it hard to find a celebrant, it may be worth asking a funeral director, calling the local Registry Office who may have a list of funeral celebrants on file, or asking HAD.

A popular option is to ask a number of different religious representatives to come, including a local Christian minister and a local Pagan priest, both of these adding to a funeral service co-ordinated by a civil or interfaith celebrant.  Prayers can then be made in different ways for those who are buried. 

Where a Pagan priest is required, it would be appropriate to ask one whose practice is focused upon the gods that may have been relevant to the deceased; for example, a Heathen priest if the individuals are dated to Saxon England, a Pagan who honours the Classical gods if the remains are RomanoBritish, an animist or Druid if they are earlier.

Using its own consultation proces, HAD has put together a Ritual of Committal for the reburial of ancient and nonChristian human remains.  This does not assume any knowledge of the deceased’s culture or religion, and can be used as a source of guidance and inspiration.  It can be found at http://www.honour.org.uk/node/32 or by getting in touch with HAD.