5 myths about Vikings that everyone believes - Stephanie H. Smith

https://vid.freedif.org/w/hM7AAZHofJ5XhdbokXh6Zi

This may be of interest @ifr @garethmarlow
#DaBox #VikingFuneral #VikingBurial

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/archeologists-confirm-oldest-viking-ship-burial-in-all-scandinavia-could-re-write-the-viking-age/

Viking funeral pyres: sorry, but…no

It sounds super cool, but you’re not going to get set adrift on a flaming boat. It’s not that we don’t *want* to, it’s because:

- It’s not legal. There’s like, one place in the US that has permission for open air cremation, but they do it on land.

- It’s not historically accurate. Flaming funeral boats were not practical. It was too expensive to build and burn traditional longboats. Cremations we’re performed, but more often on land. Burial was acceptable too, and mounds were sometimes shaped to look like boats. Higher ranking men (and women!) could be buried with their actual boats.

- It’s not practical. Not only would it be very costly, it wouldn’t be effective. The fire wouldn’t be able to burn long and hot enough to fully consume the body before either extinguishing or sinking the boat. That means partially burned limbs washing up on shore, which is unanimously frowned on within the US.

If you’re dead set (pun!) on a burning boat, you *might* be able to get away with a token version. Have the cremation performed in a real crematory, then put the cremated remains on a tiny boat. Be very conscious of local laws and fire safety! You don’t want to adversely affect the environment or spark a wildfire.

Are you just looking for alternatives to standard burial and cremation? Look into whether water cremation (alkaline hydrolysis) or human composting is legal in your area.

#HisAndHearsePress #Funeral #Viking #Vikings #Norse #VikingFuneral #FuneralPyre #Cremation #OpenAirCremation #DeathPositive