The history of humans on Earth spans hundreds of thousands of years, and many of these years have involved the practice of burying the deceased. Unfortunately, this is not an ideal solution: for instance, approximately 404,685 hectares of land are currently designated for burials, and the production of coffins requires the destruction of around 1.6 billion trees each year, just in the United States, according to IFLScience.
What would happen if humanity decided to abandon traditional burial practices and simply inter the deceased in the ground without using coffins? Researchers believe this is not the best idea. Emergency services typically use body bags; however, during the burial process, a coffin may seem like a better alternative. Firstly, it is more acceptable to the relatives of the deceased, and secondly, handles and a sturdy shape ensure proper transportation. Moreover, some scientists argue that a coffin can sometimes even save a life.
As is known, after death, our bodies become a hive of activity as bacteria, once controlled by our immune system, multiply. But they are not the only ones. According to the World Health Organization, there are numerous diseases that can be transmitted through corpses, including tuberculosis, cholera, and hemorrhagic diseases. The risk is significantly higher for individuals who regularly interact with the deceased.
For corpses deemed particularly high-risk, coffins are often sealed to reduce the risk of infection. At the same time, lead-lined coffins have been considered traditional among royal families since William the Conqueror burst forth from his sarcophagus due to a burst intestine. Furthermore, in some countries, they are still a legal requirement for surface burials.
A dead body in the wild decomposes much faster because the soil is teeming with other organisms, from microbes to flesh flies and scavengers that can scatter remains over great distances.
The decomposition ecosystem is a remarkably complex cascade of trophic interactions, which means we do not end up with a heap of dead bodies in the wild, but it has its drawbacks. If bodies were buried in a cemetery without coffins and only a small amount of soil on top, they would likely not remain underground for long.
The fact is that flies can penetrate to a depth of about 2 meters to access coffins and lay their eggs. At the same time, foxes, coyotes, opossums, badgers, raccoons, crows, and others can tear open graves to reach the remains.
Funeral rites are steeped in culture, and the burial sites of ancient peoples have provided fascinating insights into what was dear to them in life. As a result, burials often become targets for grave robbers.
This phenomenon has become so widespread that authorities in some states have supported the development of a "coffin torpedo," which protects the deceased's body from the attacks of grave robbers.