Do Elves BURY their dead?

[Morthoron]

Originally Posted by Alfirin

The answer to why there are so few graves in ME and they all seem to belong to the noble and important is very, very simple, they were the only ones ALLOWED such a privalege. The Concept of a grave as we now now it, that of a spot that a person is interred FOREVER, is a very, very new concept, even in the western world (started around the 18th-19th century, I belive).

In view of Tolkien's background in Anglo-Saxon studies, I believe he adhered to the fundamental practices of that society, and of other Norse and Germanic folk, which would not include disinternment and placing of bones in an Ossuary. Looking at common Viking practices, for instance, there are many cemeteries scattered across Sweden, Norway and Denmark where non-upper class folk were permanently buried. This goes for Viking settlements in Greenland and the New World as well.

The reason Tolkien only mentions Rath Dinen, the Rohirrim's mounds and the Barrow Downs (site of Dunedain burials), all of which hold lordly tombs, is that they are germane to the story. Tolkien does not dwell much on commonality in any race, save perhaps the Hobbits. There is sparse information regarding anything outside of what happened with the ruling caste of any race; however, it is reasonable to assume that, as with most societies, the peasantry and bourgeois followed the norms of their lords.

[THE Ka]

Originally Posted by Morthoron

The reason Tolkien only mentions Rath Dinen, the Rohirrim's mounds and the Barrow Downs (site of Dunedain burials), all of which hold lordly tombs, is that they are germane to the story. Tolkien does not dwell much on commonality in any race, save perhaps the Hobbits.

I've thought a bit about this concept before, but I believe Morth and Rune sum it up rather well. For the sake of the story's development and to express the range of experiences of the fellowship and others I doubt Tolkien would have say, Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas stop after finding the Uruk-hai pire and exclaim, "Ah ha! You see now dear reader, a prime example of Rohirrim funerary customs with the fallen and their enemies- "

Though, I can't doubt that Tolkien did take some measures to show his readers some of the customs of the different peoples that the fellowship was made up of, and met with to distinguish differences from elves, hobbits, etc. Just that the story wouldn't be what it is if he set it up as a sociological safari, having characters explain their culture in the short time and immediate threat they had dealing with Sauron and others. Instead, we have the opportunity to read from an observational perspective and experience what the characters do, etc. Plus, as Rune has already said, it wouldn't be the same read if Tolkien tried to make a cultural encyclopedia within the story (and we wouldn't have much to talk about here as well...).

It's interesting though how much everday customs we know about Hobbits in and out of the Shire, but I can't remember whether Tolkien wrote about any of their funerary customs either... (!). Though, I think the wealth of information about them is relative to the spotlight in the story Frodo and his fellow kif and kin hold in the story.

~ Ka

[Gwathagor]

Maybe the elves stick their dead in trees like some of the Native Americans...that would be funny. And fairly appropriate, too.

[Maedhros_the_Tall]

I'm not sure how relevant it is, as its a tenuous link at best, but I noticed when re-reading 'Unfinished tales' today, in 'Tuor and his coming to Gondolin', it says the following;

"Now Tuor came to the ruins of a lost road, and he passed amid green mounds and leaning stones....." (upon his approach to Vinyamar)

As I said, its tenuous as best, but could these 'green mounds' be burial mounds perhaps? Or just mere grassy knolls!

[Girl in the Grass]

If Elves did just "turn to dust" when they died, it seems that depending on the amount of time it took for them to...dissolve (for lack of a better word) the Elves would have a sort of memorial service, and then let the dust be scattered by the wind. It sounds appropriate to me, and accounts for the apparent lacking of burial mounds. If a body was just going to crumble into dust there would be no need for burial, as animals wouldn't be able to desecrate the remains and there would be no chance of disease from rotting flesh. Of course this is just pure opinion.

[Rune Son of Bjarne]

Originally Posted by Girl in the Grass

If Elves did just "turn to dust" when they died, it seems that depending on the amount of time it took for them to...dissolve (for lack of a better word) the Elves would have a sort of memorial service, and then let the dust be scattered by the wind. It sounds appropriate to me, and accounts for the apparent lacking of burial mounds. If a body was just going to crumble into dust there would be no need for burial, as animals wouldn't be able to desecrate the remains and there would be no chance of disease from rotting flesh. Of course this is just pure opinion.

I do agree that it would be an exelent explanation to why there is so few elven graves to be found, but I think one has to take a broader view. This does not explain why there is relatively few human graves mentioned and while this is not part of the question, it might very well be part of the answer.

As I stated before there seems to be a clear tendency to Tolkien leaving burial rituals and such, exept for the ones for the nobility. . .which ofcourse is important for the stories.

Another thing is that if the elves did just turn to dust then there would be no reason at all to save Fingolfins body and give it a burrial.

[William Cloud Hicklin]

On the Uruk-hai in Rohan:

Interesting that Tolkien usually associates cremation with 'carrion': Ugluk's band, the Witch-king's beast (whereas Snowmane was buried) and so on: the 'burned Dwarves' of Azanulbizar were considered in a way to have made a second sacrifice after death, so sorrowful were the survivors at being forced to take that option.