GENEALOGY-DNA-L Archives

From: "Ralph Turner" <>
Subject: [DNA] Burial again
Date: Fri, 09 Feb 2001 09:54:34 -0800
References: <200102060900.f1690cV24832@lists5.rootsweb.com>
In-Reply-To: <200102060900.f1690cV24832@lists5.rootsweb.com>

In regards to burial without embalming. Embalming today is almost entirely for reasons of viewing of the deceased at a funeral. I thought maybe that embalming would damage dna. I'm not sure of that.

Burial in Oregon does not require embalming. I notice that several other states do not require it. I doubt that it is required anywhere by state law. It may be required for a particular cemetery. And burial in a vault may be required for some cemeteries and possibly by EPA, eventually. But I'm just speculating on that.

I thought for a time that the state required flush monuments in new cemeteries. But it turns out it is just a convenience thing for easy mowing in many perpetual care cemeteries. A side effect of those monuments is that they eventually disappear under the turf, as it grows up and over them. Some of you must have noticed this when you try to read those that are 20 years old or older. Soil builds up under mowing and watering so that in effect the slab is sinking. I noticed that my grandmothers slab is located on a hill where the mower turns and so she has a brown streak diagonally across her inscription.

RT

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• [DNA] Burial again by "Ralph Turner" <>