Abstract: A cremator having a parallelepiped construction of increased lateral breadth relative to earlier cremators. The hot gases flowing through the apparatus are constrained to follow a serpentine path of travel below the plane of the primary hearth that includes two return bends. Thus, the path of travel is elongated and the dwell time of the gases within the apparatus is increased. The gases are re-heated after the first return bend has been traversed, and the velocity of the flow of gases is further decreased by increasing the cross sectional area of the passageways that contain the gas flow.