Safe Luxury

Do they ever put burial vaults on TOP of caskets?

This past week we buried my aunt and as we watched the actual burial, they placed the large, metal, SOLID vault on TOP of her casket in the ground. Is this normal? I thought that the whole idea of the vault was to protect the casket from outside damage (ground, animals, water, etc) and to keep the ground solid above the casket. It didn't make sense that they would just set this incredibly heavy thing on top of the casket. I've done a few internet searches and didn't find any results related to this. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Public Comments

1. What you saw is common. They a type of vault called a top-seal, or dome vault. The base is placed down into the ground, it is about 4-5 inches thick. The casket is then lowered onto the base, and finally the lid is placed on top. Given the right graveside conditions and proper installation, this type is supposed to be one of the best burial vaults. But, I assure you, the vault was placed around the casket, not on top. That would serve no purpose and be a waste of a vault. Take care!