Many people find it shocking when they see headstones being bulldozed as a part of a cemetery “recycling” project. Most are surprised to realize that although death is permanent, the grave sites are not. People have expressed their disgust over this inconceivable practice. However, before you begin raising your eyebrows consider the following facts below. Contrary to popular belief, graves are not kept around forever.
Rooted in History
The reuse of graves is nothing new because even in ancient times, it is common practice to inter many people in one plot. Documents indicate that even in the very early centuries, people in Europe reused and repurposed old burial mounds. These mounds dated as far back as the Neolithic period and the Bronze age.
The catacombs in Paris is proof that shows that graves are not just assigned to one person forever. Even in the 18th century, the solution of the French for overcrowded cemeteries was to stack bodies one on top of the other. This practice seems to be a common occurrence that has been repeated often across cultures around the globe for thousands of years now.
Modern Complexities
Recycling graves is a phenomenon that occurs until today due to overcrowding and extreme population growth, especially in some urban communities where land is a precious commodity. The only difference now is that some modern cemetery owners have romanticized death and life. There are no unsightly bodies layered like a deck of cards akin to the catacombs.
Now, there are many new garden cemeteries, which have been repurposed from old graveyards, where people are encouraged to take picnics or play games with their children in the midst of the headstones. It serves as a recreation space that permits a joyful remembrance of loved ones.
Some say feel this is a deplorable practice. However, think about this fact, though. The entirety of human history shows that around 108 billion people have now lived and died. Imagine all those bodies in need of final disposition methods. These bodies do need to go somewhere. The important thing is they are laid to rest in peace.
Time Frame For Grave Keeping
Technically speaking, you don’t buy the property when you acquire a grave, but you only have the right to use that space to bury your loved one. You also get other rights, such as the choice to erect memorials or niches. All of this must follow the rules and regulations of the cemetery.
On top of that, you can only lease your grave plot for a specific time frame, depending on what is stipulated in your documents. At a certain period, grave site owners will receive a letter offering them to extend their lease. If you avail of the extension, then you can use it as long as your family has paid the necessary fees.
Legally, in most places, graves cannot be sold for more than a century. If you do not renew the lease, your burial rights will also run out a lot faster. For those leases that have expired the property and responsibility for the said plot will revert back to the city council for public cemeteries or the developer of a private cemetery.
Grave Concerns
What happens when a cemetery is too full? Recycling happens. However, this approach is not just due to spatial issues. It also hinges on economic considerations. The sole source of a cemetery’s income is from leasing burial plots. How will cemeteries continue operations and remain financially viable if there is no space left?
Cemeteries are built to serve the burial needs of contemporary local communities. Sometimes, due to a severe lack of space, this can only be accomplished by repurposing the super old graves so that the newer internment can finally take place.
Usually, a site may be reused when an internment right expires, usually after a specific period, and if no relative can be found to pay for the right to lease. When this happens, the ones in charge of the cemetery uses the lift and deepen method. This means all the grave markers are removed. The existing burial is also removed, the site it dug deeper, and the remains are placed deeper into the grave. This means another burial can commence and be placed on top of this deeper excavation. The headstone can be smashed and buried along with the rest of the remains.
Careful Considerations
Before a grave site is reused, most document what has been placed on the site. It is photographed and written down in a ledger for the sake of posterity. Nowadays, laser scanning is an excellent method for recording all processes and making them digital. Later on, this is available for public inspection and becomes a part of the historical repository of these places.
However, different rules apply if the cemetery happens to be a heritage site that houses important historical or archaeological artifacts. It would be best to check with the city council regarding the special rules on this matter.
Final Word
A grave tells a beautiful story of a life that once walked the earth. Some graves are particularly touching more than others because of the prominent people they hold. However, there is a common aspect; all graves around the world do deserve respect! As the old saying goes, “our dead are never dead to us until we forget them.” At the end of the day, what matters is not the place of internment but the memories that this dear departed loved ones leave behind.