Smartphone to help trace burial mound without headstone

Scots living abroad may soon have ashes and other mementoes of their relatives buried in a quiet corner of their homeland which could be identified by a smartphone, thanks to a new service that plans to use buried microchip as markers, instead of headstones.

Plans have been approved for the ashes and other mementoes of Scots who die abroad to be buried in two-feet-square plots in Fife, Scotland, The Scotsman newspaper reported on Sunday.

The items will be interred without headstones or markers and relatives will trace the spot using their mobile phones and a buried microchip.

In what is believed to be a first-of-its kind service in Britain, George Kelly, who owns and sells plots of land in Scotland through the company Land Sales Direct, won permission from Fife Council last week, the report added.

"Clients can deposit personal mementos -- which would include tiny amounts of ashes in a very small 3 inches by 2 x 1 inches sealed biodegradable container -- in a quiet woodland setting," Kelly's agent JM Planning Services was quoted as saying in a statement.

"It is anticipated that these items will be from the relatives and friends of overseas deceased persons of Scottish ancestry though local people and others with an affection for Scotland will be welcome to use the service," the statement added.

--IANS

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