Why Are Graves Dug 6 Feet Deep?

It may be extremely challenging to cope with the death of a loved one; however, funeral homes in Aurora, CO can serve as a comforting shoulder to depend on during these hard moments. 

There are a number of hypotheses that attempt to explain the practice of digging graves to a depth of six feet. Despite the fact that graves being dug 6 feet deep have been around for a very long time, there is no consensus on the factors that contribute to the phenomenon. The following are some of the reasons why graves are excavated to a depth of six feet: 

• The 1665 London Plague epidemic. 
   
• Another rationale for this is to ensure the grave digger's safety. Some people believe that the primary reason for excavating a grave to a depth of six feet is to protect the one doing the digging. They also feel that excavating a grave to this depth might make it simpler to access the body. A gravedigger of normal size could still throw dirt out with a shovel even if they were 6 feet tall. In addition to that, he didn't need a ladder to go in or out. 
   
• To Protect the Corpse from Being Stolen. Snatching dead bodies was common in many parts of England and Scotland in the early 1800s. Therefore, graves were always dug six feet deep to prevent body snatchers from gaining access to the buried remains. Another issue that people were worried about was animals digging up graves. An ancient practice of burying dead people six feet underground may have helped mask the odor of decay from predators. Similarly, random disturbances, such as plowing, would be unable to reach a person buried six feet underneath. 
   
• Preventing the Spread of Disease was another major reason. Unfortunately, the transmission of illness has not always been well understood. They may have thought that bodies carried sickness during epidemics. In contrast to the bubonic plague, cholera and TB do not spread to those who come into contact with human remains. While this isn't always the case, it might explain why so many people think caskets need to be buried at a depth of 6 feet or more. 

Are Graves 6 Feet Deep? 

A celebration of life differs from a funeral ceremony in that there is no presence of the deceased's body present. No regulation stipulates that graves have a depth of six feet or more. The regulations are different in every state. For example, no standard guideline governs graves' depth in the state of New York. The sole requirement is that there should be a depth of three feet between the top of a casket or coffin and the surface on which it is placed. If the body is contained within a concrete vault, the depth of the grave only has to be two feet. 

It is not quite apparent where the regulation that graves must be at least 6 feet deep originated; this rule exists. As was said before, the reasons may be to ensure the safety of the person digging the grave, to dissuade others from stealing bodies, or any other reasons. People may have also believed that this would prevent diseases from spreading and preserve the remains of the deceased from being disturbed. State laws vary on the minimum required burial depth. Nevertheless, the majority of tombs excavated in modern times are just approximately 4 feet deep. Pre-planning can take some of the stress and financial anxiety off of your family after death and ensure the kind of memorial event you want.

If you have any more questions about this, you may contact funeral homes in Aurora, CO.