Tomb: Home of the Dead

Q: What is a tomb?

A tomb is generally understood as an enclosed space for a deceased human being and is regarded as their final resting place.

Q: Why were tombs constructed underground?

Tombs were constructed underground because the afterlife was understood in ancient cultures as a world that existed below the earth. Building a tomb below ground was thought to give the soul of the deceased easier access to that world.

Q: What are the earliest tombs in ancient Egypt?

The earliest ancient Egyptian tombs are mastabas which were first built during the Early Dynastic Period, circa 3150-circa 2613 BCE.

Q: Why were tombs considered important?

Tombs were considered important as way to honor the deceased, keep their memory alive, provide them access to the afterlife, and prevent their return as ghosts.

Joshua J. Mark

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Definition

A tomb is an enclosed space for the repository of the remains of the dead. Traditionally tombs have been located in caves, underground, or in structures designed specifically for the purpose of containing the remains of deceased human beings and, often, their possessions, loved ones, amulets, or sacred items to either protect or direct the soul.

More about: Tomb

Timeline

c. 6000 BCE
Burial of the dead in Egypt.
c. 6000 BCE
Earliest Egyptian mastabas dug at Saqqara.
c. 5000 BCE
Dead buried with grave goods at Banpo Village, China.
4300 BCE
First megalithic tombs in Europe.
c. 4000 BCE
Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery begins in Sligo, Ireland.
c. 3300 BCE
Early Harappan Civilization of India practices burial of the dead.
3300 BCE
Newgrange Burial Mound constructed in Ireland.
3000 BCE
Stone tombs on Crete.
3000 BCE
Tomb of the Eagles created in Scotland.
c. 3000 BCE - c. 2800 BCE
Maeshowe Passage Grave completed in Scotland.
3000 BCE - 2000 BCE
First rock-cut burial chambers at Akrotiri.
c. 2600 BCE
Mayan Culture buries their dead individually under homes.
c. 2600 BCE - c. 2000 BCE
The Royal Graves of Ur used in Sumer.
c. 2560 BCE
The Great Pyramid of Giza is constructed by Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops).
c. 2500 BCE - c. 2000 BCE
The Balnuaran of Clava (Clava Cairns) is built.
c. 1700 BCE - c. 1600 BCE
First shaft graves constructed at Mycenae.
c. 1500 BCE
First tholos tombs built at Mycenae.
1250 BCE - 1200 BCE
Mycenaean chamber tombs constructed at Thebes.
c. 1100 BCE
Greeks implement use of individual tombs and graves.
c. 700 BCE
Tomb of Mayan King K'utz Chman of Retalhuleu constructed in Guatemala.
c. 680 BCE - c. 660 BCE
The Etruscan Regolini-Galassi Tomb is constructed at Cerveteri.
530 BCE - 520 BCE
The Etruscan Tomb of the Lionesses is constructed at Tarquinia.
210 BCE
First Emperor of China Shi Huangdi dies, buried with army of 8,000 terracotta warriors in palace tomb.
206 BCE
The Emperor Shi Huangti is buried with a terracotta army of more than 8,000 soldiers in a palace tomb.
c. 750 CE - 800 CE
The subterranean llama-shaped royal tomb is constructed at the Wari city of Pikllacta.
770 CE
Last recorded use of Clava Cairns site in antiquity.