What Do Cremated Remains Look Like?

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What Do Cremated Remains Look Like?

Burying our dead has been part of human tradition for thousands and thousands of years. Different cultures have different ways of honoring their dead. Some buried them with a great deal of pomp and circumstance, others with loving touches of familiarity and respect. As it happens, cremation has been around for quite some time as well. However, its modern history in the West began as a more practical alternative to other forms of burial.

Modern cremation initially started in the 1870s as a way for European doctors and people in the medical world to eradicate diseases, or so they thought. It was believed that burying deceased bodies could spread disease and cause other problems. Cremation was introduced to North America shortly after that. And today, it has transformed from a purely scientific-based solution to a viable option for families to send their loved ones off with love and respect.

It’s commonly wondered, what do cremated remains look like? We’ll discuss what happens to a body once it’s been cremated.

Cremated Remains

Cremated remains will vary in appearance based on how they were cremated. When a live flame is used, the burning chamber is heated to extremely hot temperatures, reducing almost everything to ashes. When a body comes out of the chamber, it’s not uncommon for there to be some bone fragments left that weren’t quite broken. These pieces are put through another processor that reduces them to a gritty, ash-like substance that we know as a person’s “ashes.”

Some cremation processes leave the ashes looking lighter or paler than others. But ultimately, the deceased person’s remains will be gray in color and have the appearance of coarse sand.