What ritual is associated with mound burial in Viking culture?

Mound burial in Viking culture is closely associated with the practice of cremation followed by earth covering. This ritual reflects the Viking beliefs about the afterlife and the importance of honoring the deceased. In this process, the body of the deceased was traditionally placed on a pyre and cremated, which was believed to purify the spirit and facilitate its journey to the afterlife. Once the body was cremated, the ashes were often placed in a burial mound, which served as a significant marker of the individual's life and social status. The act of covering the burial with earth created a physical representation of the final resting place, as well as a space for remembrance by the living.

While other practices like feasts and celebrations may have taken place in conjunction with funerals, the specific ritual of mound burial is most directly tied to the act of cremation followed by the covering of the ashes with earth. This emphasizes the uniqueness of the Viking burial traditions within their cultural context.