Ktarian death ritual

The Ktarian death ritual is a Ktarian burial ceremony which consists of, at least partly, placing thousands of stones in the tomb of the deceased; each of these stones is sacred and represents a special prayer. Burial grounds are known to exist on Ktaria VII.

In 2371 Commander Chakotay, while exploring a Vhnori burial asteroid, related to Ensign Kim the time he went on a tomb excavation on Ktaria VII. He wanted to keep a memento of the experience, so he picked up a rock from the burial site, not knowing its significance. He later realized he had desecrated the man's grave.