Ice burial encompasses two distinct yet equally fascinating concepts: a modern, environmentally conscious approach to end-of-life care, and the remarkable natural preservation of organisms over millennia. This method, whether chosen today or occurring through ancient geological processes, offers intriguing possibilities. Both forms of ice burial provide unique insights into life, death, and the delicate balance of ecosystems.
The Modern Ice Burial Process
The contemporary ice burial method, often called promession, is a multi-step process designed to return remains to the earth. The body is first frozen to a temperature of around -18 degrees Celsius, typically over 24 to 48 hours, before being placed into a sealed unit. Next, it undergoes cryogenic freezing using liquid nitrogen, reaching approximately -196 degrees Celsius, which makes the body extremely brittle. This deep freezing process can take about two hours, with the liquid nitrogen evaporating into nitrogen gas.
Following this, the frozen body is moved onto a vibrating belt, which, in approximately 60 seconds, reduces it into small particles, typically around 5mm in size. These particles are then transferred to a vacuum chamber, where water is evaporated and released as steam, resulting in a dry powder that weighs about 30% of the original body weight. Any remaining metals, such as dental fillings or artificial hips, are then separated from the powder using electrical currents and magnets. The resulting organic powder is placed into a biodegradable casket and buried shallowly in the topsoil, where it naturally transforms into nutrient-rich humus within 6 to 12 months.
Environmental Benefits
The modern ice burial method offers several ecological advantages compared to traditional funeral practices. It significantly reduces the environmental footprint by avoiding the high energy consumption associated with cremation, which uses fossil fuels and releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Unlike traditional burial, promession does not involve embalming chemicals like formaldehyde, which can leach into the soil.
The process also filters out heavy metals, preventing their release as pollutants into the atmosphere. The resulting organic remains integrate naturally into the soil within 6 to 12 months, enriching the earth and supporting new plant life. This natural decomposition process promotes aerobic decomposition.
Natural Preservation in Ice
Beyond modern applications, ice has naturally preserved bodies for thousands of years, offering glimpses into ancient life. One prominent example is Ötzi the Iceman, discovered in 1991 in the Ötztal Alps. This Copper Age man, dating back 5,300 years, was naturally mummified within glacier ice, preserving his body, clothing, and equipment.
Permafrost in regions like Siberia has yielded well-preserved woolly mammoths, with soft tissues, fur, and even blood intact. Ice acts as a preservative by freezing biological material, halting decomposition by inhibiting microbial activity and enzymatic reactions. The cold and dry conditions prevent oxygen from reaching the remains, allowing for long-term preservation of organic matter, including soft tissues and DNA.
Unlocking Ancient Secrets
Naturally preserved ice discoveries have provided scientists with information about past populations and ecosystems. From Ötzi the Iceman, researchers have gleaned insights into his last meal, which included wild goat and einkorn wheat, and whipworms in his intestines. His well-preserved tissues also revealed genetic predispositions to conditions like heart disease and evidence of Lyme disease, making him the oldest known case of the illness.
The genetic analysis of Ötzi’s DNA indicated he had brown eyes, brown hair, blood type O, and was lactose intolerant, providing details about ancient human traits. Discoveries of woolly mammoths in permafrost have allowed scientists to reconstruct their genomes, revealing their chromosome count (28 pairs, similar to elephants) and shedding light on their genetic makeup. These ice-preserved specimens offer unique biological material, providing direct evidence of ancient diets, diseases, and genetic characteristics that would otherwise be lost to time.