Archaeology challenges the idea that funeral practices have remained unchanged over time, revealing how burial methods have evolved throughout history. In France, as in many European countries, the body of the deceased is traditionally placed in a coffin made of wooden planks before being buried or cremated. These practices are deeply ingrained in modern society, often seen as timeless. But have they always been the same? To understand this, we must look to the past and the insights provided by archaeology. Thanatological archaeology is a relatively new field that focuses on the study of human remains and their surrounding environments to understand ancient funeral practices. It involves the careful excavation of burial sites to uncover bones and other remnants of funeral architecture. In laboratories, these remains can reveal details about specific practices, such as excarnation (removing flesh from bones) or mummification. The oldest known burials, found in the Near East, date back more than 100,000 years and are attributed to Neanderthals and Homo sapiens. Since then, humans have developed a wide range of funeral practices, including burying, burning, or even dismembering bodies, depending on cultural and societal contexts. Throughout history, the importance of cremation and burial has fluctuated. During the Protohistory and Antiquity periods, both methods were used, but burial became more dominant during the Middle Ages and the modern era. During the Middle Ages, burials were often placed in necropolises along roads or in open fields, but this changed with the rise of parish cemeteries near churches. Individuals were buried in separate plots, usually lying on their backs with their heads to the west. Despite these commonalities, variations existed, with some people buried in simple pits or more elaborate containers like sarcophagi or wooden coffins. The Modern Age saw the widespread use of wooden coffins, and new practices emerged to preserve bodies, such as embalming and burial in lead coffins. However, these methods were eventually replaced by more standardized techniques. The legalization of cremation in 1887 marked a significant shift, and today, it is becoming increasingly common in France. This evolution reflects changing societal values, including environmental concerns. Currently, French law mandates that the deceased be placed in a coffin with a waterproof bottom, and only burial or cremation are permitted. In burial, the body is placed in a trench or vault and marked with a surface marker. In cremation, the body is burned, and the remaining ashes are placed in an urn. New practices are emerging, such as earth burial, which uses plant matter to facilitate natural decomposition, and aquamation, a process that dissolves the body in an alkaline solution. These methods reflect a shift in how people view death, memory, and the environment, offering alternatives to traditional burial and cremation.