In northern Karelia, they are characteristically placed on islands. At burial, all traditions, mostly pagan, were observed. Today, in many old Karelian cemeteries, you can see the usual, eight-pointed crosses, and on a few mounds, typical Karelian death boards, kalmalaudas, can be found. Kalmalauda was an attribute of Karelian burial ritual. Usually it was made of the same material as the casket. On top of the burial mounds, the Karelians built small ‘burial houses’ associated with the archaic dwelling, which, like typical pagan sanctuaries, were inhabited by a god. It could be dedicated to the specific departed person or represent all patron ancestors of those still alive. A symbolic burial house could even be as big as a real chapel.