The practice of cremation, which involves burning the deceased to reduce them to ashes, has a long history dating back thousands of years. Evidence from Lake Mungo, Australia, suggests that this practice dates to the Pleistocene Era, at least 20,000 years ago. Pottery urns from the Stone Age in Northern Europe, dating to around 3,000 B.C., indicate early instances of cremation. The Greek tradition of cremation for fallen soldiers is famously depicted in Homer's epic poems, "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey." In Roman culture, cremation was used to highlight the divine status of Emperors, symbolizing their ascent into godhood. Cremation has deep roots in Asia, particularly in Hinduism, where it is considered a crucial part of the "Last Rite" due to the belief in reincarnation. Buddhist communities also practice cremation, though it is not mandatory. Legend has it that Buddha himself was cremated in the 4th Century B.C.E. The Viking funeral is a well-known example of cremation, in which the deceased is placed on a pyre and cremated. In the Ynglinga Saga, Odin establishes the law that all dead men should be burned with their belongings laid upon the pyre. Japanese cremation practices emphasize hygiene and purify physical and spiritual contamination. The acceptance of cremation in Christianity was a gradual process, with the Catholic Church officially lifting the ban in 1963, when the Code of Canon Law was amended. The first crematory in the Americas was established in 1876, marking a significant milestone in the history of cremation.