Ten Ways to . . . In some cultures, the body was left for scavengers to take care of.
Cremation Reducing the body to ashes in a great fire is one of the most common disposal methods.
Burial at Sea Placing the dead in boats and sending them out to sea was common among some peoples although the Vikings, a sea-going people, rarely buried their dead at sea. In many cases, the dead were placed on platforms or in trees. Some groups kept important ancestors in jars or other containers inside the house so that they could be consulted on a regular basis. Put Them in Caves or Tombs Enlarged versions of graves, some natural and others artificial, were used to dispose of the dead. It was thought that since the underworld was underground, the living might as well give the dead a head start on their journey.