Wax figurines at the Siek cemetery in Ahrensburg face challenges
In the Stormarn district, the Siek cemetery has been closed for burials, as reported by the local MOPO newspaper. This decision was made due to a unique set of circumstances, primarily the dense filling of the cemetery and the high groundwater levels, which have led to complications such as the presence of mummified bodies.
The high groundwater level has made the cemetery ground too saturated, potentially causing disturbance of remains and making burial operations unsafe or inappropriate. As a result, the authorities have decided to ban both coffin and urn burials in the Siek cemetery.
The mummification of the dead bodies in the cemetery, referred to as "wax figures" by experts, is a consequence of the high groundwater levels. This unusual situation means that the traditional process of reassignment of graves after 25 years cannot be followed in the Siek cemetery, as the "old" bodies have not decomposed.
The Mayor of the town, Andreas Bitzer (CDU), stated that the legal situation left them no other choice in closing the cemetery. However, the cemetery will be maintained and remain accessible.
The Siek cemetery was previously home to a pond that was filled in 1972. This history, combined with the current high groundwater levels, has created a challenging environment for accommodating new graves.
The developments in the Siek cemetery are causing uncertainty for the relatives of those buried there. Meanwhile, there is a separate ongoing issue of million-dollar damages from Baltic floods, with insurers refusing to pay, and victims considering legal action.
Experts predict that there will be no more burials in the Siek cemetery in the long term. The MOPO newspaper reported the closure of the Siek cemetery for burials on 31 July, and earth burials have been temporarily stopped due to the high groundwater level. As an alternative, the bodies in the Siek cemetery are being buried on top of each other in multiple layers.
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- Due to the high groundwater levels and the presence of mummified bodies, the traditional process of reassignment of graves after 25 years cannot be followed in the Siek cemetery, as the "old" bodies have not decomposed, making it a unique scenario in the field of science and health-and-wellness.
- The Siek cemetery, with its unusual situation of mummified bodies and the inability to perform traditional burial practices, serves as an intriguing study case in both the science of cemetery management and the health-and-wellness implications of environmentally challenging burial grounds.
