Decomposition

[Alex.Mahone]

How long does it take an adult body to decompose when buried in a standard coffin?

[Ice.Maiden]

Under normal burial conditions (provided the ground isn't water-logged) it takes about a year for the skeleton to lose most of its tissue.

[Schutzengel]

A lot depends on whether the body in question was embalmed or not. If embalmed it would take a long time. If not the flesh would decompose fairly quickly, but of course in both instances the skeleton would remain. If the need for exhumation arose, then the skeleton could provide DNA.

[Panic Button]

It's cremation for me.

I can't bear the thought of this.

[Schutzengel]

A bit of a strange subject. But apparently there's a new way of disposing of human remains. It involves a process similar to freeze-drying, at extremely low temperatures and all that remains is a kind of granular dust, which retains the nutrients. Which can then be buried, and a tree planted over the place, whereby the nutrients will feed the tree. It is said that this method will appeal to eco-friendly types of people, as a way their early remains will live on through the tree. It seems that at present there are only two establishments which provide this service, which is a fair bit more expensive than cremation, but that the price is likely to fall as more locations become available. Sorry Alex for hi-jacking your thread, but I thought it might interest you. I think it would appeal to me as a preference over cremation.

[Schutzengel]

Oops! that should have read 'earthly remains'.

[scotman]

why do you want to know?

[Ice.Maiden]

Well I'm "hoping" to have a green burial, Schutzengel - whereby I'm buried in a wicker casket, and a tree'll be planted to mark the spot. Went to one not long ago, and if there CAN be such a thing as a nice burial - that was it. The casket was intertwined with flowers, and wild flower seeds were sprinkled over the deceased.

[wildwood]

Icey, here is more info on the 'green' burial mentioned by Schutzengel. This way your mineral at least can live on in a tree or shrub.

[terambulan]

Slim before you're buried......else there's a mountain of soil sticking up above you in the cemetary!

[Ethel]

Resomation is the new green method

http://www.resomation.com/id10.html