The Black Death had a devastating impact on Europe, killing millions of people. The bodies of the dead were often left unburied, or were buried in mass graves. This led to the spread of disease and the contamination of water supplies. In some cases, bodies were burned in an attempt to prevent the spread of infection. The sheer number of dead and the speed at which they died meant that the bodies often had to be interred quickly, making it too dangerous for many to mourn their loved ones in the customary way.