By the late Stone Age, cremation practices had spread across northern Europe, with decorative pottery urns discovered among the Slavic peoples in western Russia. As the Bronze Age progressed (2500 to 1000 B.C.), cremation extended to the British Isles, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, northern Italy, and eventually Ireland. During the Mycenaean Age (circa 1000 B.C.), cremation became a significant aspect of Grecian burial customs, evolving into the predominant mode of disposition by 800 B.C. This influence extended to the early Romans around 600 B.C., who adopted the practice widely, leading to official decrees against cremation in cities by the mid-5th Century. Throughout the Roman Empire (27 B.C. to 395 A.D.), cremation was commonly practiced, with remains stored in elaborate urns and columbaria.

Despite its prevalence among Romans, early Christians and Jewish cultures continued to prefer traditional burial, a practice that persisted for centuries. Modern cremation began to take shape about a century ago with the development of reliable cremation chambers. The cremation movement gained momentum in Europe (1873) and North America (1876), spurred by exhibitions by Ludovico Brunetti of Italy and the establishment of cremation societies by Sir Henry Thompson of England. Crematories were set up in England and Germany in the late 19th Century, and subsequently in various North American cities. By 1913, the founding of the Cremation Association of America marked a significant step in the formalization of cremation practices. Over time, cremation's popularity has continued to grow, with a notable rise in cremation rates in the United States in 2019.