How long do coffins take to biodegrade?

[filthiestfis]

Is it many many years? If so, why is it not allowed to exhume it within a year of death?

[Buenchico]

Hi Ed.

I'm unsure as to where you've got the idea that coffins can't be exhumed within a year of death (or should that be 'burial'?). There have been some criminal cases where the police have exhumed corpses within days of burial.

The time taken for a wooden coffin to decompose will depend upon its local environment. A wooden coffin buried in peat might never truly decompose; instead it could simply become 'petrified'. (Archaeologists have recovered some of the earliest wooden coffins, from peaty soil, largely intact).

Coffins buried in more normal soil conditions will decompose at similar rates to, say, wooden fence posts. (Fence posts are treated to slow the rate of decomposition. Coffins don't undergo exactly similar treatments but the varnish used will probably have a somewhat similar effect).

Anyway, under most circumstances, surely it's not the decomposition of the coffin that's relevant, but the decomposition of the corpse within it. If you're not squeamish, the Australian Museum (based in New South Wales) has some relevant (and detailed) information on its wonderfully-named website:
http://www.deathonline.net/decomposition/index .htm

Chris

[alan-r]

Buenchico
that link is fascinating to read
cheers

[carlton23]

You needn`t worry about it, so forget it and think nice things,after all, it`s Spring Time.

[filthiestfis]

I have ALWAYS heard that its a one year wait before a coffin can be exhumed. At least, where I come from (Buenchico you should know my place of origin too) it IS the case.
We would like to move my father to a better place within the cemetery but have to wait one year to do this. Same thing happened with another relative that passed on a couple of years ago.