Grave Goods: Laws, History, and Ideas

When we hear the word grave goods, we often think of Egyptian pyramids or our last museum visit where we explored exhibits on cultures from the Stone or Bronze Age. Back then, ideas for grave goods ranged from jewelry and clothing to live animals and even people. 

Today, grave goods are on a much smaller scale.

What is a grave good?

The term grave or coffin goods is likely not unfamiliar to you. These are the items that loved ones place in the grave with the deceased. Grave goods can be divided into two different categories. 

What types of grave goods are there?

There are 'non-genuine' goods, also known as 'offerings,' and 'genuine' grave goods.

Among the 'non-authentic' grave goods are all personal items that the deceased liked to use during their lifetime, such as their jewelry, clothing, toys, and other everyday items.

In contrast, the 'authentic' grave goods include crafted items that were specially made for the burial. Funeral jewelry or grave ceramics are examples of these 'authentic' grave goods.‍

Are Grave Offerings Allowed, and If So, Which Ones?

When a loved one passes away, many people wish to leave a final token or keepsake. A modern grave offering can be throwing flowers into the grave during the burial. But what else can be thrown into the grave? Is it allowed to bury jewelry? 

In fact, small keepsakes can be placed in the grave with the deceased: jewelry, letters, or photos.

Make sure that the items are biodegradable and do not pollute the groundwater. 

What can be placed in the grave during an urn burial is the same as during a regular earth burial. However, keep in mind that urn graves are very small, so your offerings should not exceed a certain size.

Prohibited Grave Offerings

Important to know: There are regulations regarding coffin or grave offerings. These are regulated regionally and detailed in the respective cemetery bylaws. General regulations state that the grave offering should be biodegradable and not harmful to the environment nor pollute the groundwater.

For urn burials, the regulations specify that the coffin offerings must be combustible and, above all, not explosive.

Ideas for Grave Offerings

We understand the desire to send something personal with the deceased on their last journey. Here, we'd like to offer some inspiration.

• A very personal photo - perhaps a wedding photo or a family picture
• A stone engraved with a saying or a wish
• A small talisman or a stuffed animal
• A special piece of jewelry, maybe even a pendant with a unique engraving
• A keepsake from their infancy: perhaps the hat the deceased wore as a newborn, symbolizing both the beginning and the end
• The ashes of a previously deceased pet - but make sure to check with the cemetery administration beforehand, as policies can vary
• The latest edition of the daily newspaper: more commonly included than you might think!
• The deceased's diary
• A piece of their favorite chocolate or a praline
• A personal letter or love letter

The Historical Significance of Grave Offerings

It helps to look back at history to understand the development of this tradition.

This practice dates back to the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, and even the Ice Age. However, grave offerings were distinctly recorded in ancient times, particularly in Greece and Italy.

In Greece, due to beliefs about the afterlife, coins were often used as grave offerings. The belief was that one had to pay the ferryman to cross the River Styx to reach the shadowy realm beyond.

In the years 1977-1978, a very wealthy tomb was discovered in a small Greek community. It was attributed to the son of Alexander the Great. In addition to cremated remains, numerous offerings were found, including a gold-embellished body armor, helmet, sword, many gilded items, a silver diadem, and a golden casket.

In Rome and its provinces, there were noticeable regional and chronological differences in this practice. In Rome itself, only a few tombs with wealthy grave goods were found.

However, in rural areas, grave offerings and customs persisted until the Imperial era. Regional traditions also developed, such as in the Cologne area at that time, where the deceased were buried with dishware to ensure they had food and drink.

In the subsequent period, known as the Early Middle Ages, especially in Europe, the deceased were often buried with imitation offerings. For women, these were usually remaining metal pieces from clothing, like shoe buckles, leg wraps, or pins. Additionally, jewelry such as earrings, necklaces, or rings was included.

For men, weapons like an axe, shield, arrows, or bow, as well as belt buckles, were common grave goods.

With the advent of the Middle Ages/Modern Era and the spread of Christianity, this practice became increasingly uncommon. Grave offerings were mainly confined to clerical graves and intended to honor the deceased. Bishops' graves, for example, included rings, chalices, patens, or croziers.

What Role Do Burial Objects Play Today?

Traditionally, it was believed that burial objects would provide for the deceased in the afterlife. Nowadays, especially in the Western world, burial objects are less connected to religious or afterlife beliefs.

In the Catholic faith, the inclusion of burial objects occurs due to a stronger religious background.

Catholics, for example, place items such as a cross, rosaries, Bibles, and prayer books with their deceased loved ones.

Including items in the coffin is a way to send a final message to the deceased. It expresses how much you value them, miss them, and how strongly you wish to keep their memory alive.

Through burial objects, relatives show their appreciation for the deceased and aim to honor and respect them.

Burial objects can also help in the grieving process. By consciously saying goodbye to the dead, the mourning process can be positively influenced.

Why Has the Frequency of Burial Objects Decreased?

The number of traditional burial objects in Germany is steadily declining. Why is that? After all, it is a beautiful gesture to send a cherished piece of the deceased's life with them as a memento for their journey.

The reason could be that many people are unaware that they are allowed to continue this tradition. To give a clear answer: YES, absolutely. It is even highly encouraged. Typically, the funeral director will inform you about burial objects.

Conclusion

Burial objects are very personal items that help the bereaved and relatives say goodbye to the deceased.

Since these objects hold significant emotional value for both the bereaved and the deceased, burial items can assist in 'saying farewell' and thus aid in the grieving process.