Cremation is a practice involving the burning of a deceased body and the burial of its remains, derived from the Latin verb "cremare," meaning "to burn." Throughout history, this burial method has been applied in various societies for religious, symbolic, or practical reasons. Archaeological evidence and written sources document its use in different periods across diverse regions, especially in Anatolia.
Definition and Methods of Practice
Cremation involves burning the deceased body at high temperatures (800–1000°C), collecting the remaining bones and ashes, and either burying these remains in a container (urn) or preserving them. The practice may take the form of primary cremation, where the body is burned and buried on the same site, or secondary cremation, where the burned remains are transported elsewhere for burial.
Based on the degree of burning, cremation can be classified as complete cremation, where all soft tissues are fully consumed by fire, or partial cremation, where only certain parts of the body are exposed to fire. In both cases, the process is encompassed within the definition of cremation.
Image Depicting the Cremation Practice (AA)
Meaning and Justifications of Cremation
The reasons for practicing cremation in cultural contexts are diverse. In some belief systems, the process serves to purify the soul, facilitate its passage to the afterlife, or cleanse the body from worldly elements. Additionally, metaphysical reasons such as completing the transition after death and preventing the soul’s return to the body have been accepted in various cultures.
Besides these, practical reasons such as conserving burial space in densely populated urban areas and maintaining sanitary conditions have also led to the preference for cremation. Cremation also allows for better control of funeral ceremonies and makes the deceased’s remains more portable. Thus, cremation can be defined as a method adopted both for faith-based and environmental or logistical reasons.
Historical Background and Early Periods
The earliest known example of cremation dates back approximately 26,000 years near Lake Mungo in Australia. This finding is regarded as one of the first instances of burial by burning in human history. Similarly, traces of this tradition are found in Epipaleolithic settlements in the Near East.
In the Levant region, the Kebara Cave and Wadi Hammeh sites are notable for cremation burials dating to the Natufian culture period (approximately 11,500–9,500 BCE). These findings indicate that the deceased were burned within a ritual framework and their remains buried. Cremation burials from the Proto-Urban A period have also been uncovered in settlements such as Gezer, Jericho, and Ala Safat in the same geographical area.
In the Balkans, superficial fire-exposed skeletons were detected in the Mesolithic cultural layers of Franchti Cave. Cremation burials dating to the Early Neolithic period have also been discovered in settlements including Nea Nikomedeia in Macedonia, Prodromos in Thessaly, Soufli Magoula, Avgi in Northern Greece, and Tell Azmak in Eastern Thrace. This indicates that the tradition was widespread in Eastern Europe.
In the Caucasus, Iran, and Central Asia, cremation burials are documented in the Trialeti, Alakul, Fedorovo, and Andronovo cultures. In India, cremation examples are found within the Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa cultures (approximately 3000–1500 BCE). In Europe, cremation burials have been recorded in various cultural layers, especially from the Mesolithic and Neolithic periods. In these regions, cremation is thought to relate both to local belief systems and practical considerations.
All these data demonstrate that cremation was not exclusive to any single geography or culture but was widely practiced across different communities from prehistoric times onward.
Image Depicting the Practice of Cremation(AA)
Cremation Tradition in Anatolia
The cremation tradition in the Anatolian region has been identified in various settlements dating back to the Neolithic Age. At Çayönü, evidence indicates that certain skeletons were deliberately burned, and similarly, burnt human bones were found at Demirköy and Aşıklı Höyük. Findings from Aşıklı Höyük reveal that cremation was practiced not only on adults but also on children and infants; these individuals were burned at low temperatures over prolonged periods, and their bone remains were buried beneath houses.
Urns from the Late Neolithic period uncovered in the Istanbul-Yenikapı excavations show that cremation remains were placed in special containers and deposited into burial pits, indicating a ritualized practice integrated into funerary ceremonies.
In ancient times, the Antandros Ancient City in Western Anatolia serves as an important center where cremation has been systematically documented archaeologically. Research at the Melis Necropolis demonstrates that from the 7th century BCE through the Byzantine era, both cremation and inhumation (burial) methods were used concurrently. Among 209 individuals, 72 were identified as having been cremated, with analyses conducted on their age and sex. The relatively unburned condition of vertebrae, sacrum, and pelvic bones suggests the individuals were laid on their backs during cremation. Additionally, some burials contained melted metal objects such as fibulae, indicating that the deceased were burned with their clothing. Grave goods and animal bones suggest no significant social status difference among these individuals, though cremation may have been more common among those with greater material means.
Cremation in Anatolia During the 2nd Millennium BCE
Hittite texts report that kings and queens were cremated and buried after death. Archaeological cremation evidence from cemeteries dating to the 2nd millennium BCE supports these accounts. Around 270 cremation graves have been found at Gedikli-Karahöyük, considered a key center for institutionalized cremation practices in Anatolia. The Arıbaş Cemetery near the Acemhöyük settlement, where 139 cremation graves were uncovered, is also significant for understanding practices of this period.
Similarly, in Western Anatolia’s Troas region, archaeological evidence documents cremation practices dating to the latter half of the 2nd millennium BCE at sites such as Panaztepe, Beşiktepe, and Baklatepe. Findings indicate that cremation was adopted not only by elite classes but also by diverse socio-economic groups.
Image Representing Cremation Practices in Ancient Times (Generated by Artificial Intelligence)
Current Legal Status of Cremation
Today, cremation is a widespread and institutionalized service in many countries. In Europe and North America, cremation facilities are operated either as public services or by the private sector. In Turkey, Law No. 1593 on Public Health permits cremation based on the individual's will. However, since there are no crematorium facilities in the country, the practice cannot be effectively carried out. This situation has led to various legal and ethical debates concerning the restriction of individuals’ rights to choose their method of burial.
Cremation is not merely a burial method but also reflects individuals’ worldviews on death, belief systems, and social status. Archaeological evidence from Anatolia reveals that this tradition has evolved throughout history in accordance with different religious beliefs and living conditions. Cremation has functioned both as a religious ritual and as a practical solution, offering significant insights into the relationships between individuals, society, and death. Today, cremation continues to be debated across legal, cultural, and personal dimensions. It is a deep-rooted practice reflecting the burial customs and rituals of various societies in both prehistoric and historic periods. Archaeological finds and written records show that cremation is not only a practical method but also a component of intellectual systems related to death, the soul, and social memory. Traces of this tradition extend across a broad geographical area from Anatolia to the Levant, and from the Balkans to Central Asia, adapting to its contextual conditions in each era, sometimes intertwined with religious symbols and social status. Currently, cremation is reconsidered as a practice at the intersection of individual preferences, legal regulations, and cultural acceptance. In this context, cremation remains a multifaceted cultural phenomenon that carries the marks of the past while continuing to evolve according to future needs and thought systems.
