Tag Archives: Burial

Laying a Pet to Rest: A Short History of Pet Cemeteries

How pet cemeteries can help us grieve for our smallest family members

The loss of a pet can be as tragic and heart-rending as the loss of a human family member. Pets can be our faithful companions, our children, or even our coworkers. Because their love is so fiercely unconditional and their … Continue reading

Posted in Cultural Perspectives | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment



Alkaline Hydrolysis: Green Burial or Scientific Nightmare?

A new disposition method liquefies the body, preserves the environment and horrifies funeral consumers

Given the numerous environmental issues overshadowing the 21st century, learning how to live sustainably is a generally accepted responsibility. But what about learning how to die sustainably? Traditional burials take up valuable space. Cremation requires lots of energy, often supplied … Continue reading

Posted in Something Special | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Ohlone Shellmound Buried Beneath the Emeryville Shopping Center

An ancient burial ground's tragic history of conquest and carelessness

Before the Spanish arrived in the 1700s, the Bay Area was home to the Ohlone people. But little evidence remains to tell their story. After all, Histories tend to bury those that come before—a brutal truth embodied by the Ohlone … Continue reading

Posted in Cultural Perspectives | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Tolkotin Native Americans: Rituals for the End of Life and Burial

Why Native American traditions for death and dying captivated early explorers.

North America, circa 1831: Irishman Ross Cox had long braved his emigration to America and finally published Adventures on the Columbia River. The early explorer’s book is integral to our understanding of the era, and not just because it informs … Continue reading

Posted in Cultural Perspectives | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Celtic Dreamlands and Burial Rites

How Celts prepared for a wonderous afterlife in the otherworld

Although many cultures adorn the dead with material comforts like flowers, coffins, and well-pressed suits, these objects are generally meant to benefit those in grief. However, for the Celts, a society that spread across Europe and the British Isles from … Continue reading

Posted in Cultural Perspectives | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

An Urn for Cremation Burials in Water

Agnes Hegedus designs an urn around an ancient -- yet eco-friendly -- tradition

We at SevenPonds have been bookmarking many of Designboom’s “Design for Death” inventions. The competition featured 2,050 designers from nearly 100 countries, each with unique designs for coffins and cremation vessels. Hungary’s Agnes Hegedus was a standout in the “Wrapping … Continue reading

Posted in Soulful Expressions | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment