Even up to the present day, New Orleans faces this problem. There are several reasons for 6 feet. To Prevent the Spread of Disease As mentioned earlier, London officials and medical practitioners in 1665 mistakenly thought that deceased plague victims spread the disease (among many other erroneous explanations), and that burying these bodies "6 feet under" would help slow/stop the spread of the disease. As mentioned earlier, London officials and medical practitioners in 1665 mistakenly thought that deceased plague victims spread the disease (among many other erroneous explanations), and that burying these bodies "6 feet under" would help slow/stop the spread of the disease. Why do they bury bodies 6 feet under? Click to see full answer. I found this by far the most disturbing part of the place. As the disease swept the country, the mayor of London literally laid down the law about how to. It makes it harder for grave robbers of the past to dig down that deep without getting caught. Eventually, there was no need for . Why do they bury six feet under? Ever since Norman times, burials of the common person had tended to be quite shallow, typically bath shaped pits just large enough to accommodate the body, and with the churches earning a decent income . To Prevent the Spread of Disease As mentioned earlier, London officials and medical practitioners in 1665 mistakenly thought that deceased plague victims spread the disease (among many other erroneous explanations), and that burying these bodies "6 feet under" would help slow/stop the spread of the disease. Edited to correct spelling. With 20 percent of London's population succumbing to the Bubonic plague, the death rate had reached over 8,000 per . Recap The 6-foot rule might have just been a way to protect bodies. In particular, flood-prone areas like New Orleans wouldn't want their dead to follow the six feet under rule, since it will only result to waterlogging and coffins springing from the ground. Individual jurisdictions specify their own minimum depths, but most are nowhere near six feet. Why do they bury bodies 6 feet under? Burying a body 6 feet deep may have been a way to stop animals from smelling the decomposing bodies. To Prevent the Spread of Disease. Why do we bury bodies six feet under? When the bubonic plague hit the area, the mayor of London immediately issued a law on how to properly deal with dead bodies to prevent the spread of infection. It was then specified that the graves should be dug "at least six feet deep.". I have pondered on this for a while so I decided to make a little research. Why do they bury bodies 6 feet under? Apparently, it all started during the 1655 bubonic plague in England. It all started with the plague: The origins of "six feet under" come from a 1665 outbreak in England. A body buried 6 feet deep would also be safe from accidental disturbances like plowing. Why do they bury bodies 6 feet under? In California, for example, the coffin must be covered by a minimum of 18 inches of dirt and turf; Quebec's Burial Act orders that "the coffin shall be deposited in a grave and covered with at least 1 m of earth, but the Minister of Health and . An obvious explanation for burying a dead body deep in the ground is to reduce the likelihood of the body being dug up by an animal. Answer (1 of 9): Why do we bury people six feet below and not more or less feet? As mentioned earlier, London officials and medical practitioners in 1665 mistakenly thought that deceased plague victims spread the disease (among many other erroneous explanations), and that burying these bodies "6 feet under" would help slow/stop the spread of the disease. (WYTV) - Why do we bury bodies six feet under? The six feet under rule for burial may have come from a plague in London in 1665. In California, for example, the coffin must be covered by a minimum of 18 inches of dirt and turf; Quebec's Burial Act orders that "the coffin shall be deposited in a grave and covered with at least 1 m of earth, but the Minister of Health and . level 2. Why Do We Bury Dead Bodies Six Feet Under by spartoo: 7:14pm On Jul 21, 2016. Deep burial is a practical way to deter grave robbers and animals. In modern standards for burial grounds, there is no need for the grave to be six feet deep. The six feet under rule for burial may have come from a plague in London in 1665. Individual jurisdictions specify their own minimum depths, but most are nowhere near six feet. To Prevent the Spread of Disease As mentioned earlier, London officials and medical practitioners in 1665 mistakenly thought that deceased plague victims spread the disease (among many other erroneous explanations), and that burying these bodies "6 feet under" would help slow/stop the spread of the disease. The "six-feet" idiom came to be during the Great Plague of London in 1665. To Prevent the Spread of Disease As mentioned earlier, London officials and medical practitioners in 1665 mistakenly thought that deceased plague victims spread the disease (among many other erroneous explanations), and that burying these bodies "6 feet under" would help slow/stop the spread of the disease. You are incorrect that it is not more or less. The Lord Mayor of London ordered all the "graves shall be at least six-foot deep." Gravesites reaching six feet helped prevent farmers from accidentally plowing up bodies. To Prevent the Spread of Disease As mentioned earlier, London officials and medical practitioners in 1665 mistakenly thought that deceased plague victims spread the disease (among many other erroneous explanations), and that burying these bodies "6 feet under" would help slow/stop the spread of the disease. To Prevent the Spread of DiseaseAs mentioned earlier, London officials and medical practitioners in 1665 mistakenly thought that deceased plague victims spread the disease (among many other erroneous explanations), and that buryingthese bodies"6 feet under" wouldhelp slow/stop the spread of the disease. Continue this thread. While the fact that the Lord Mayor issued the instruction is not in doubt, what is less understood is why the City of London decided that six feet under was the appropriate depth to go for.. This theory is based on logic, but there is no specific reason why one would choose to bury remains exactly six feet deep. To Prevent the Spread of Disease. Why do they bury six feet under? Bodies. There's a reason we dig both graves and latrines to six feet. By the way, if you visit the Killing Fields outside Phnom Penh, bits of bone and clothes are often exposed by heavy rain as the mass graves were dug too shallow. Why do they bury bodies 6 feet under? The Lord Mayor of London ordered all the "graves shall be at least six-foot. Some say that six feet is deep enough that animals wouldn't be able to smell decomposing . Click to see full answer.