Ossuaries - new burial paradigm

Description

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional application No. 63/118,938, filed Nov. 29, 2020, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

We suggest here the construction of a new burial paradigm, with graves constructed above an underground concrete structure (similar to an underground parking lot) that would eventually house an ossuary with hones of the deceased stored directly under the original grave; descendants could thereby reuse graves and create a multi-generation burial plot.

For those choosing this alternative, their grave will be visited by their descendants for many generations. As such, on the tombstone, best if only the deceased's name and date of death, plus a URL providing a link to a written history describing all those buried under each tombstone, are listed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 shows a ground-level view of a typical Jewish cemetery in the modern-day State of Israel;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing (from above) an arrangement of burial plots in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a group of underground plots.

One suggested design to accomplish above could be along the following:

• • 1. Before pouring concrete for tombstone base (see FIG. 1), an underground concrete structure would be built at approximately 2 meters below ground surface to 4 meters below ground surface, in a manner that provides the structural foundation to support current two-level graves, and also creates a three sided niche directly under each grave (see FIG. 3) as the final resting place of the aforesaid ossuary. Dirt directly under each grave (at 4 meters below ground surface) would be left uncovered to enable eventual burial of the ossuary. (To ensure adequate rainwater drainage, tombstone base must be slightly above ground level with cement contoured towards the road surrounding the graves.)
  • 2. Access to an open side of the niche under each grave would be from a meter-wide concrete path running the entire length of the underground structure between alternate rows of graves (between B&C, D&E, etc. in FIG. 2—directly under the above-ground access path). There would be only one underground access path for each two rows of graves. (To enable adequate underground rainwater drainage, the access path would be slightly higher than the uncovered dirt under each grave, with cement contoured towards the graves.)
  • 3. Natural lighting of underground structure could come from glass bricks or equivalent cemented into the ground-level access path (directly above the underground access path). Alternatively or additionally, artificial lighting could be provided.
  • 4. The main support walls for ground level graves would be thick reinforced concrete walls running the full length under every second row of graves (between A&B, C&D, etc. in FIG. 2). Also, the walls between graves forming the niches will be constructed of reinforced concrete with bottom of each wall connected to underground concrete access path.
  • 5. Access to underground structure housing ossuaries would be from road running perpendicular to graves via individual manhole covers opposite each underground access path (dots in FIG. 2) or an access tunnel running under the road.

Retrofitting cemeteries—Where spouses are buried next to each other, old graves could theoretically be retrofitted to accommodate underground ossuaries. After placing bones from both graves into either one or two ossuaries, a concrete niche would he built under one grave (D3) with underground access from the adjacent grave (D4). The access grave (D4) could provide underground access to up to 4 graves (D3, D5, C4 and E4—FIGS. 1, 2 and 3). It will be appreciated that the same design could also be used for new cemeteries. After removing dirt, underground niches (3 sides and top) plus bottom of access grave (at e.g. 4 meters belowground surface) that extends some 20 cm into each niche would be built using reinforced concrete. Side facing access grave and bottom (dirt) under each niche would be left open. Cover of access grave could be via large openable metal plate, or one or two standard 65 cm manhole covers.