Mausoleums offer an alternative to traditional ground burial, providing an above-ground structure for entombment. These structures serve as a resting place, with individual compartments known as crypts designed to house caskets or urns. Unlike subterranean interment, mausoleums introduce unique environmental conditions that influence human decomposition.
The General Process of Decomposition
Decomposition is a natural process where organic matter breaks down into simpler substances after death. This process involves several stages: fresh, bloat, active decay, advanced decay, and dry/skeletonized remains. Immediately after death, the body undergoes autolysis, or self-digestion, where cells begin to break down due to internal enzymes and a lack of oxygenated blood flow.
Bacteria present in the intestines then proliferate, producing gases as byproducts, which cause the body to bloat. During active decay, soft tissues liquefy, and a significant amount of body mass is lost. As decomposition progresses, most soft tissues disappear, leaving behind hair, bones, and cartilage in the advanced decay stage, eventually leading to a dry or skeletonized state.
Distinct Conditions Within a Mausoleum
The enclosed environment of a mausoleum alters the decomposition process compared to in-ground burial. Crypts within mausoleums are sealed, creating a space with limited air circulation and stable temperatures. This reduced exposure to external elements like soil, moisture, and fluctuating temperatures slows decomposition.
In such controlled, drier conditions, the body may undergo mummification, a process where tissues dehydrate and dry out, preventing further decay. Alternatively, if moisture is present but oxygen is limited, saponification can occur, leading to the formation of adipocere, also known as grave wax. Adipocere is a waxy substance formed from the anaerobic bacterial hydrolysis of body fat, preserving the body in a soap-like consistency.
Influences on the Body’s Transformation
Several factors within a mausoleum can influence how a body transforms. Embalming, a common practice before mausoleum interment, involves injecting preservative chemicals into the body, which delays decomposition. While embalming does not halt the process entirely, it slows the initial stages of decay and can minimize odors and fluid leakage.
The type and sealing of the casket also play a role. Unsealed caskets, particularly those made of porous wood, allow for better ventilation, which can promote desiccation and mummification. Conversely, sealed or airtight caskets, often made of metal, can create an anaerobic environment where gases and fluids accumulate, potentially leading to casket rupture. This accumulation can result in liquefaction of remains rather than mummification. The construction and sealing of the crypt itself, including ventilation systems and drainage, manage decomposition byproducts and odors.
The Ultimate State of Remains
The long-term outcome for a body interred in a mausoleum varies depending on environmental conditions and prior preparations. Complete skeletalization, where all soft tissues decompose leaving only bones, is one possible result, though this process is often extended over several decades in a sealed environment. If conditions are dry and air circulation is adequate, the body may mummify, becoming desiccated and leathery.
In environments with limited oxygen and sufficient moisture, adipocere formation can occur, transforming fatty tissues into a waxy substance that preserves the body’s general form. It is possible for a body to exhibit a combination of these states, with some areas mummified and others transformed into adipocere. The final state of the remains can range from a preserved, mummified form to skeletal remains, or even a liquefied state within a sealed casket.