Cremation is a process that involves the high-temperature reduction of a deceased body to its basic elements, primarily bone fragments, through combustion. The body is placed in a special chamber called a cremation furnace or retort, where it is subjected to intense heat, typically ranging from 1,400 to 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit (760 to 1,093 degrees Celsius). After several hours, the remains are cooled, pulverized, and placed in an urn or container, which can be kept by the family or dispersed according to their wishes.