ABSTRACT
Death is considered as both a biological and cultural event (Rakita and Buikstra, 2005). In many cultures, it is considered spiritually dangerous for both the dead and the living. The soul enters a liminal period where it exists neither with the dead nor the living, and this state is mirrored by the living mourners, who are also in a liminal place, removed from normal society while they grieve (Hertz, 1960; Rakita and Buikstra, 2005). As the physical remains of the deceased transition from being a living body to dry bones, the body too is in a liminal, temporary state (Hertz, 1960; Rakita and Buikstra, 2005). This state is resolved through funerary ritual and disposal of the physical remains of the deceased. At this point, the spirit is considered to be freed from its physical remains and the mourners have regained their normal places in society (Hertz, 1960; Rakita and Buikstra, 2005). The liminal phase of death can be considered as a time of social or biological adaptation to new or changed conditions created by biological death. This adaptation is a process that requires spiritual rituals to guide the living, as well as the dead, safely through this challenging period. Physical procedures are also required to deal with the remains of the dead and funerary practices cover both these needs. One such practice is cremation.
