I need to build a pyre.

My google-fu is not helping me with the details.

What can ya'll tell me about the construction of pyres? I know they need to burn hot. My characters have driftwood and beach grass available.

Also, any idea what this would smell like when it was dying down? (after the charred flesh smell ended).

Anyone personally watch a pyre burn? What was it like?

RIP my beloved character

Cheers,
Christina

Medieval ships, wrecked on a sandy bay. (They didn't actually drift there, but they have been battered by the tide and some storms).

Temperate climate

Anything else?

Ah yes, who indeed.

The novel takes place in a fantasy pseudo-Poland. The ships were built by pseudo vikings (only the ocean is on the southern end of my country and thus the the 'vikings' came from the south, similar to going across the Mediterranean sea... only not!). I like oak- have used it earlier in my novel...

The time is roughly 11th century.

Thanks for the link.

Yikes, the bones crumbling is a pretty intense image. I imagine my pyre will collapse as it burns, and thus the skeleton shape will be lost.... Collecting the ashes is a nice touch though. Thank you.

Cheers,
Christina

All senses would be nice but smell and sight are a good start. The ships wrecked a few weeks ago, so fairly fresh, though high tide could have worked away at it. The person died that morning and its now just after sunset.

Pine sounds good. I'll have to go burn some and see what I get

Cheers,
Christina

Ah, excellent! Thank you both for the further help.

The first hand account really helped me imagine what would fit into my scene.

Cheers!
Christina