What was a notable burial practice of the Mongolians?

The notable burial practice of the Mongolians that stands out is the feeding of the deceased to wild animals, often referred to as "sky burial." This practice stems from the Mongolian belief in the importance of returning the body to nature and allowing it to serve a purpose after death. By feeding the body to scavenging animals, they see this act as a way to honor the deceased and represent a cycle of life and death.

In the context of Mongolian culture, this form of burial aligns with their spiritual beliefs and practical lifestyle, where they live in harmony with nature and often have a nomadic way of life. The vast steppes and open landscapes of Mongolia facilitate this practice, as there is ample space for it to occur, and it also reflects their Buddhist influences.

Other burial practices, such as complicated tomb constructions, while historically present in other cultures, were not typical of Mongolian customs due to their nomadic lifestyle. Similarly, planting trees over graves may be more aligned with other cultural practices, and burning bodies, while existing in various traditions globally, does not hold the same significance as the sky burial does in Mongolian culture. Thus, the distinction of feeding bodies to wild animals is what makes it particularly notable among Mongolian burial practices.